Percussion Methods Final

Where specifically do you strike the chime tubes?

"cap" at top of tube

Recommended size tenors

(6/8/10/12/13/14) large configuration

A recommended concert bass drum mallet? Can timpani mallets substitute for bass drum beaters? How do you care for BD beaters?

-Concert Bass Drum mallet (ex: Innovative Percussion CB-3) -no, timpani mallets don't sound good on BD (not enough mass) -Don't touch heads, store in a plastic bag

Describe 4 ways to play more staccato (articulate) on the timpani. In order of commonly used:

1. More "meat" on the stick. Allow all fingers to touch the stick, similar to SD. You still don't need to over-squeeze and be tight though 2. Half the height, twice the velocity. A faster stroke produces more articulation. 3. If using both hands, play closer together or in the same spot. 4. If you need to play soft but articulate, use the finger snap. This is "b", the velocity approach done with pure fingers. Snap the fingers into your palm to generate a lot of velocity with a small height/distance Note: These can be combined in multiple ways. E.g. "a,b, and c" are commonly used together if maximum articulation is desired.

List three ways you can protect this material and make your mallets last longer

1. Never touch the heads with your hands/skin 2. Never play them on anything besides timpani heads (not suspended cymbals, marimbas, your leg. etc.) 3. Always store them in some type of plastic bag, then in a mallet bag r case

What are the five four-mallet stroke types discussed in class? List and briefly explain the first two.

1. Single Independent Stroke- one mallet rotates around the other mallet 2. Double Vertical Stroke- chords are played in piston stroke style - mallets hit at the same time (mostly a wrist action) 3. Single Alternating Stroke 4. Double Lateral Stroke 5. One-Handed Roll

Give approximate sizes for both

12" x 14"

What size marching snare drum?

14"x12"

Recommended size bass drums

18",22",26" 18",20",22",26" 16",18",20"24",28"

List three types of mallets/ materials recommended for chime hammers

2 sets of mallets: 1 par rawhide. 1 pair acrylic with moleskin on 1 side

How many lines or strings should a good triangle clip have to suspend the triangle? Why?

2, incase one breaks there is another to catch it

Draw a normal set of four drums. List the size and range of each

23" D-A 26" Bb-F 29" F-C 32" D-A

Most common size for a piccolo snare drum?

3 x 13

What is the standard range of the xylophone?

3.5 Octaves (F-C)

What is the standard/most common range of the marimba?

4.3 Octaves (A-C)

Most common sizes for a standard concert snare drum?

5 x 14 or 6.5 x 14

Mr. Britt's recommended beginner book is called?

A Fresh Approach to Mallet Percussion by Mark Wessels

What beginner book is recommended for snare drum?

A Fresh Approach to Snare Drum by Mark Wessels

What do the 3 slashes on a note stem tell you to play?

A Roll

What do high end (professional) concert snare drums often use for snares?

A combination of several types

What is the difference between a tenor drum and a field drum?

A tenor drum does not have snares while a field drum does.

A simple timpani is called?

A timpano

Where is the correct beating spot on the timpani?

About a 1/3 of the way in from the edge of the bowl. If the drums are set up correctly it will be directly above the pedal as well

What brand of keyboard is recommended?

Adams or Yamaha

When deciding upon a sticking for a passage, what should be your first and preferred approach (when possible?)

Alternating. You might start on the left or right hand and continue alternating hands.

List two important ways to keep your cymbals/cymbal stands rattle free?

Always use a rubber or plastic sleeve to cover the metal thread (never have metal touching metal). Also, the cymbal must rest on a felt pad.

What is the best position for the music stand on most keyboard instruments?

As close and as low to the keys as possible

Describe the type of head that should be used on the snare side of your high school snare drum. What head is recommended?

As thin as possible. Clear

What sticking choice should you avoid?

Avoid fast doubles on the same drum

What four mallet grip is used by most professional vibe players?

Burton

Which roll technique requires more fulcrum pressure on the stick?

Buzz Roll

List 4 synonyms for a closed roll

Buzz, Multiple Bounce, Orchestral, Concert

When moving up and down the keys on large instruments, what is the best way to position your body?

Center of body is in front of wherever you are playing

On most keyboard percussion instruments, what is generally the best place on the bar to play?

Center, above resonator, or slightly off-center

List 2 other "special effects" cymbals that are also used on the drum set.

China Cym Sizzle Cym

Which is more appropriate for most concert literature?

Concert Snare Drum

List the most common type of mallet head and shaft used on the vibraphone

Cord with rattan shaft

List parts of snare drum

Counterhoop, Snares, Snare Tension Adjustment Knob, Lug, Batter Head, Tone control knob, Tension rod, Shell, Snare Cord, Snare Gate, Snares, Snare Head

List 4 most common types (not brands) and sizes of cymbals for your kit.

Crash - 18" Ride - 20-22" High Hat - 14" Splash - 10"

What might be your third approach if the last two approaches do not work out well?

Crossovers

Which is most commonly used on an average quality concert snare drum?

Curly Wire

List five types of snares (not snare drums)

Curly Wire, Nylon, Cable, Coated Cable, Synthetic Gut

Name three distinct different types of rolls

Double Stroke, Multiple bounce, Single Stroke

List 3 synonyms for an open roll

Double stroke Rudimental, Marching

What might be your second approach to sticking if the last approach does not work well?

Doubles between drums

What type of bowl material should you normally avoid? In what situation might you make an exception to this rule?

Fiberglass. If you wanted to use/have a second set for outside marching band, fiberglass would be ok as it is lighter and cheaper. Put them on larger, rubber wheels if you do this. But never take your good copper drums outside

How do you muffle bass drums? Where do you buy the muffling?

Foam on the inside. Lone Star Percussion

Which grip do most professionals use

French

What are three grips used to play timpani? Briefly describe each.

French- essentially matched grip but the thumbs are turned upwards with thumbnail towards the ceiling. This can produce a lighter tone because of the more free pivoting of the mallet German-palms down, very similar to matched grip on snare. the hand on top creates more resistance and in turn can produce a darker tone American- Thumbs are at 45 degree angle- in between French and German

What method books are recommended?

Fundamental Method for Timpani by Mitchell Peters The Tuneful Timpanist by Ronald Horner

What material is used to cover the mallet heads?

German felt is most common

Give two foreign terms used to indicate orchestra bells

Glockenspiel (German) and Campanelli (Italian)

Name a recommended general method book with DVD for the drum set.

Groove Essentials 1.0 by Tommy Igoe

The "golden rule" when choosing mallets is: Don't use any mallet that is _____________________.

Harder than what you are striking

Name a standard method book for intermediate SD

Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters

Why should you avoid turning?

It changes the angle of the mallets and you might miss notes or not be able to reach them at all

Is the xylophone a transposing instrument?

It sounds up one octave

What device is recommended to get your timpani heads in tune with themselves (often called clearing the heads?)

Its called a Drum Dial (get the digital version.) It will help you match the pitch at each lug. Do this regularly, or at the very least, before each performance. Professionals "clear the heads" before every rehearsal

On which drum would you tune a _______?

Know the ranges and remember that if we have a choice, the note sounds better in the upper range of a drum. The tighter the head, the more focused the pitch.

How does roll speed change from drum to drum?

Larger drums require slower rolls, while smaller drums require faster rolls to achieve a sustained sound instead of a rhythm

What are the two main stroke ideas used in timpani playing?

Legato, Staccato

The front ensemble should listen where for tempo

Listen back

A great collection of 4 mallet etudes, suitable for solo and ensemble or private lessons, is called?

Marimba: Technique through Music by Mark Ford

Which grip would you use with your beginners?

Matched grip

The authoritative test on four-mallet technique is called?

Method of Movement by Leigh Howard Stephens

Why would a percussionist need to sometimes use the edge of the bar when playing?

Passages may be too fast to hit center of bar

what are the three main stroke types used in two- mallet keyboard playing?

Piston Stroke, Up Stroke, Down Stroke

Name a standard method book for advanced SD

Portraits in Rhythm Complete Study Guide by Anthony Cirone

What are the first three stroke types that you should teach your beginners? Be able to describe each

Rebound (legato)Down (marcato)Up

What type of batter head sounds similar to calf and is a good choice to use on your high school snare drum?

Remo Renaissance Amabssador

What type of marimba bar is preferred by professionals?

Rosewood

What are the various sticking patterns, considered the building blocks (or scales) of drumming?

Rudiments

What type of roll is used to sustain on he timpani? Why?

Single Stroke Roll. Multiple bounce or double stroke actually muffle and choke off the sound

What type of roll is most commonly used on keyboard percussion instruments?

Single stroke roll

What type of sound do you get from playing near the edge of a snare drum? Why?

Softer, wetter, ringy, because playing further from the center and closer to the edge equals more overtones and less fundamental

What type of sound do you get from playing in the exact center of a snare drum? Why?

Somewhat dead sound, because the exact center of a drum is a nodal point.

Is the glockenspiel a transposing instrument?

Sounds Up Two Octaves

Name two percussion retailers where Mr.Britt recommends purchasing equipment or music?

Steve Weiss Music Lone Star Percussion

What grip are we using in class?

Stevens

What are the three main 4 mallet grips?

Stevens, Burton, Traditional-Cross Grip

Which type of snare is never used on a concert drum?

Synthetic Gut

Which is most commonly used on a marching or field snare? Why?

Synthetic gut, because it is the most articulate

What are the best places to find, listen to, and pick out new music for percussion ensemble?

Tapspace Innovative Percussion Row-Loff C. Alan publications Malletech Honey Rock

How do you tune the timpani?

The "strike/glissando" method

Name a recommended jazz method book for the drum set.

The Jazz Drummer's Reading Workbook by Tom Morgan

Your index finger points toward what in Stephens grip?

The other index finger

What is one very important thing to remember when setting up the SD? Why?

The snare release lever goes toward your body so that when you move for dynamics you are still playing above the snares

What is the standard range of the vibraphone?

Three Octaves (F-F)

When might you use traditional grip? Why is it used at all in modern percussion?

Traditional grip is still used on drum set and sometimes marching snare It is still used for visual effects, historical origins, and the best drum lines play tradition grip. Introduce in junior high for students getting ready for high school snare line

Give advantages of using matched grip

Translates well to other percussion instruments Hands do the same motion Easier for beginners to learn

What should you avoid doing with your body?

Twisting or leaning

Your thumb will face what direction in Stephens grip?

Up

Generally, when should students read keyboard parts and when should they memorize?

When the part is too hard to be played well, it must be memorized.

What are the two main materials used for mallet shafts?

Wood and Bamboo

What brands of marching equipment is recommended?

Yamaha or Pearl

How do you know which type to play? (2 ideas)

You need to know what instrument you are playing on, most of the time, marching snare is open roll. Concert snare is usually closed roll, however, in concert snare, if it is supposed to sound military or march like, you use open rolls

What interval can average cost drums tune?

a 5th, professional drums can get a 6th, or even a 7th

Describe a legato stroke on timpani

a legato stroke is a stroke that lets the mallet freely rebound off of the head rather than picking it up off the head

Where should you play for a normal forte passage on concert SD? On a marching SD?

a. Just above center b. Center

List three types of mallets recommended for the orchestra bells

acrylic, hard plastic, brass

Name one type of mallet that should never be used on xylo

brass

Where is another spot that is also acceptable to play?

edge of bar

Where in relation to your body should all accessory instruments be played if possible?

eye level

What are the four main genres of music that your set drummer will use most frequently in public school gigs?

jazz, funk, rock, latin

How can you accurately determine how long a cymbal crash or bass drum note should sustain?

match with other instruments in ensemble with similar part (like other percussion instruments)

Is the marimba a transposing instrument?

no

Is vibraphone a transposing instrument?

no

On a suspended cymbal, where should your roll for the best sound?

opposite edges of the cymbal for each mallet (9 oclock and 3 oclock)

Name three types of mallets that should never be used on marimba

plastic, acrylic, brass

List the three types of mallets used on the xylo

plastic, rosewood, hard rubber

Describe the concert cymbal grip:

pointer finger at the bass of the strap, very close to the bell of the cymbal without touching it. Thumb and pointer finger squeeze together to hold the cymbal with the strap. Other fingers grip the rest of the leather strap

Why must we angle the plates at all?

prevents air pockets, better sound

What are the two main types of rolls on tambourine? When do you use each?

shake roll (loud), thumb roll (soft)

Explain how the angle of your cymbal crashes should change as your volume changes.

the louder you play, the bigger the angle

What do most professionals use to find their pitch when tuning?

tuning fork

Soft and fast?

using fingers while the tambourine is on your knee

How do you play loud and fast on tambourine?

using the fist and knee technique, fist hits the head on the up stroke and hits the knee on the down stroke

What type of mallet was recommended for suspended cymbal?

vibraphone or marimba mallets (wrapped with cord), medium or medium soft

List three types of mallets that should be used on the marimba

yarn, cord, and soft rubber