A drum shell mounting system includes a cylindrical cage that has an outer diameter less than a drum head diameter and a plurality of windows. The cage's bore is larger than the drum shell's. A plurality of posts extend outwardly and have apertures for receiving fasteners. Removably affixable mounting clips extend into the cage's bore. In use, drum assembly proceeds by affixing the mounting clip to the cage and inserting the drum head into the cage's bore. A spacing between the cage's inner face and the drum head is maintained by the mounting clip, the drum head is placed atop the cage with a rim of the drum head positioned outside a top edge of the cage, a hoop is placed around the drum head, fasteners are inserted through hoop apertures and into the post apertures to secure the head, and the mounting clips are removed.