A strainer is provided for a snare drum having a bottom drumhead. The strainer includes a snare assembly including a snare carrier and a plurality of snares coupled therewith. A throw-side component includes a bracket member releasably mounted to the snare drum and a slide member moveable relative to the bracket member and engaging the snare carrier. The slide member includes a slider handle fixed thereto and a locking toggle such that when the strainer is coupled to the snare drum, manual movement of the slider handle causes the snares to move toward the bottom drumhead, with the locking toggle being constructed and arranged to be 1) moved to a first, locking position engaging the bracket member so as to lock the slide member to the bracket member, and 2) moved to a second, release position releasing the slide member from engagement with the bracket member.