http://www.ehow.com/how_4865588_make...rumsticks.html

I especially like how you get a piece of wood at least 3 feet long and 2 feet wide, place the wood on a lathe, and chip and sculpt it with standard lathe tools until the drumstick is round and 1/4" thick. Then paint or stain it.

Sounds like a fool-proof recipe to me.