From the Podium to the Player: Two Perspectives on Symphonic PercussionPresented by Mr. Jon Bowman and Dr. Jeff Grantat the 2015 AMEA Conference

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Purpose of Session

-Translating expectations from the director to the

percussion section (a work in progress)

-Improving knowledge on percussion pedagogy

Choosing Percussionists

Percussionists as musicians!

Background of students (discipline/challenges?)

Simple rhythm and timing evaluations

Not just the ‘leftovers’

Expectations of Percussionists

10 Ways to better manage and direct your percussionists

Use the rehearsal time you already have

10 Strategies to Better Manage Your Percussionists

1) Understand Percussion Notation!

2) Understand that percussionists play multiple instruments every day.

3) Help with repetition and rests

4) Expect percussionists to take pride in their instruments

5) Help them plan and manage time and space

6) Address problems with unusual stickings

7) Be able to explain extended techniques

8) Get the sound you want

9) Get their heads out of the sheet music

10) Keep them engaged

Rehearsal

Heterogeneous Rehearsal SettingThey do EVERYTHING the winds do

Percussionists singing!

Timpani tuning

Separate Percussion ClassTechnique

Scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments, scales and rudiments...

Music Examples and Basic Percussion

TechniquesPodium: What you want

Player: How to achieve it

Scenes from the Louvre I. The Portals

by Norman Dello JoioPodium: What you want

Timpani

Round, full and characteristic timpani sound

Support of extensive low brass phrasing

Imitative of connected low brass phrases

Scenes from the Louvreby Norman Dello JoioPlayer: How to achieve it

TimpaniGrip Playing Position

Beating Spots

Tuning

Mallet Selection

Phrasing

Grip

Be Thou My Vision by Larry Clark

Podium: What you want

Triangle

Triangle not affecting sonority of piccolo solo at m. 10

Grade 3 ½ piece with a grade 6 cymbal part

Articulation (esp. ms. 68)

Be Thou My Vision by Larry Clark

Player: How to achieve it

TriangleInstrument selection

Beater angle (the more overtones the better)

Crash CymbalsTechnique

Articulation

Cymbal Selection

Puztaby Jan van der RoostPodium: What you want

Tambourine

Tambourine imitating and coloring trombone part

Articulation and ‘errant jingle’ considerations

Tambourine: picking up and putting down

Puztaby Jan van der Roost

Player: How to achieve it

TambourineTechnique

Shake roll vs. thumb roll

Sound production

Instrument selection

Percussion Notation

Slashes….open or closed!?

Articulation [Timpani, Cymbals, Concert Bass Drum, etc.]

Part Assignments

What NOT to give the weaker performers

Play to strengths/give students an opportunity to be successful and grow as musicians

The idea of the “total percussionist”

Part Assignment Example

Part Assignment example

Wind Symphony

“One Life Beautiful”

“Esprit de Corps”

“El Camino Real”

Chair 1 Snare & Tamb

Timpani

Chair 2 Vibraphone Vibraphone

Chair 3 Crash Cym Timpani Bass Drum

Chair 4 Xylophone Xylophone

Chair 5 Timpani Castanets

Chair 6 Bass Drum CC, SC, Tri

Chair 7 Crotales Bells Marimba

Chair 8 Chimes Crash Cym Tambourine

Chair 9 Bells Chimes Bells

Chair 10 Bass Drum Snare Drum

Chair 11 Sus Cym Tam Tam WB, Maracas

Chair 12 Piano

Equipment

PRIORITIZE!

Organize and Maintain

Sticks and Mallets

Cymbals

Drums and Timpani

Mallet Instruments

Auxiliary Instruments

Mallet Hardness

Yarn = Vibraphone, Marimba, Suspended Cymbal

Rubber = Vibes, Marimba, Xylophone, Woodblock

Plastic = Xylophone, Orchestra Bells, Crotales

Aluminum/Brass = Orchestra Bells, Crotales

Podium Resources

Guide to Score Study for the Wind Band Conductor by Frank Battisti and Robert Garofalo

www.larryclarkmusic.com [minute clinics] – Website for Carl Fischer Editor in Chief Larry Clark

Recordings, recordings, recordings!

Player Resources

www.jeffersongrant.com

www.lowndespercussion.com

www.pas.org - (Percussive Arts Society)

Percussive Notes print publication

www.innovativepercussion.com

University Instructors/Clinicians (Local or skype)

Questions/Comments

DOOR PRIZES!

THANK YOU!