Percussion for Beginners: How to Hold a Drum Stick

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Levon Helm on drums and percussion

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What Piano Players Should Know About Percussion Instruments

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Percussion instruments include the snare drum (and all drums in general), cymbals, tympanis (sometimes called kettle drums as they are shaped as such), and exotic instruments such as the guiro, claves, and maracas. These instruments, and the way they are played, go a long way in determining the feel and style of the music. Where a rock band might have a set of drums (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals), Latin musicians used a number of different instruments to create music.

Though most don't think of it in this way, the piano is a percussion instrument. The tones are made by hammers striking strings, causing them to vibrate. Seeing the inner workings of a piano, and how forcefully the hammers hit the strings, shows why it is considered a percussion instrument.

Music written for a percussionist is quite different than for the pianist. Percussion notation is divided into two types: pitched and non-pitched, the difference being the instruments used. For example, drums (which can be tuned) and cymbals (which cannot).

The notation for pitched percussion is similar to piano music in that notes are placed on the various places on a staff. And similar symbols are used to show volume and attack.

The notation for non-pitched percussion instruments is less formal. A clef with two vertical lines is often used and it appears on a five-line staff similar to piano music. But some percussionist use their own way of noting which instrument is played and when.

Drum tablature (drum tab), used for a drum set (bass drum, snare, hi hat, cymbals, toms) uses the following symbols: CC: Crash Cymbal, HH: Hi-Hat, Rd: Ride-Cymbal, SN: Snare-drum, LT: Low-Tom, HT: High-Tom, FT: Floor-Tom, B: Bass-Drum, Hf: Hi-Hat-w/foot. This tablature can become quite complex as four or more instruments are often played at the same time.

Outside of orchestral and band music, most percussionists do not use any kind of tablature or notation. What they play is entirely up to them and at their discretion (and drawing entirely on their own techniques). However, most strive to create a style and sound that works well with the music, and the musicians they are playing with. And there are definite rules as to when certain percussion instruments are used. A rock drummer may play with a lot of force and intensity, where a jazz drummer plays with more touch and finesse. The best percussionists (drummers) can play a wide variety of music and styles.

For the pianist to play effectively with a percussionist, they have to be able to break down each measure into quarter note (beats), eighth notes, sixteenth notes, even thirty-second beats to be able to communicate with the percussionist. The pianist also needs to understand how and when different percussion instruments are used and for what style of music.

The biggest challenge, of course, is for the pianist to play accurately and precisely. Some pianists may have never worked with a percussionist and may not be capable of playing with the precision required. That being said, working with a percussionist can be a great training tool.

Ideas Percussion Band in Beginners Guide

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The beginner band is a big challenge, have a number of students that open only to learn their instruments and is trying to teach and inspire them to play.

Before the drums to work effectively as one of the biggest challenges, especially if you do not know much about drums.

Do not let "Drummer" alone - as a "drummer" instead of being

This is the most important thing to realize - this band of students oftendress, percussion, so they can play the drum. The) drum kit (or drum kit is often used in the school band, and often is very important so that students feel that, if not victory, because they have to sit back and wait.

The band director must find a way to resolve this situation - if you only have a drummer, then great! You can play the drums and there you go.

The problem can occur if you have different drummersband, sometimes two, four, eight or ten! One option that works very effectively and has many years is required to have a player to play snare drum, a bass drum, a player flat, although a "drum kit" written part. If the type of band I recommend this configuration, this at any time and make the students stand, play the snare drum. Do you have a swimming pool and concert bass drum, and is designed to listenthree players all the time.

Do you have a table auxiliary percussion - and make them get up to play anytime

There's nothing worse than listening to a shaker or tambourine in a vague band of school and struggle to see the person sitting on a stool behind the drums!

When playing tambourine, triangle or shaker - these tools are often essential to the band's sound, like the snare drum or drum set, so therefore they must be made trulyseriously .. the band director and the players.

So more of a "table" with all traps at hand. It is not too expensive to buy one, or one of the professionals available.

Players must always play to stand up and have their music stand has been designed to instantly see the band director.

Warming - not ignore us!

I was a drummer in a band school ... There's nothing more frustrating thanTheir time sitting in the school band room while you're waiting to vote in the wind and heat. Often the band director to spend to spend up to half an hour of heating the players - and expect the percussionists during that time yet.

How to deal with it?

- If you're going to warm up for half an 'hour .... Tell the drums to arrive after the rest! - It makes no difference for you and your better than them as a distraction!

- Why not send themin another room for their own section tests this time? Get a teacher or assistant to work with them to share their

- Use the warm-up routine pre-set involved, what you do with the winds. (Not always, but may, depending on the material you have)

Be ready to add to book the band

When I helped with beginner bands I felt it necessary to books on tape, the students with the use of additional costMaterials - The materials are often of interest, or do not have enough variety to keep students engaged in the materials.

You need a lot of work on basic approaches and roles - often books bands do not deal with these things soon enough. So you may be able to achieve with other materials, which is available online and in books extra.

Each player sticks?

I leave you this - depends on the different personalities in each ofBands you have. A number of popular books of the "Standard of Excellence" has snare / cash book and on the left side of the mallet on the right. A different kind of "essential elements" has a snare and mallet percussion book.

I think it should become a drummer and do as much as possible, and if that means he needs two books, while all other members of the band needs only one .. then this is the way it shouldbe!

There are no quick fixes to do better in the percussion band beginners, but I hope this can give one or two ideas that help!

Ideas To Help With Percussion In The Beginner Band

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The beginner band is a big challenge, you have an entire band of students who are just starting to learn their instruments, and you are trying to both educate and inspire them to play.

Getting the percussion section to work effectively can be one of the biggest challenges, particularly if you don't know a lot about percussion.

Don't let them be "drummers" only - be "percussionists" instead

This is the most important thing to realize - that band students are often attracted to percussion so that they can play the drum set. The drum set (or drum kit) is often used in the school band, and often is very important, so students feel that if they are not playing it they have to sit there and wait.

The band director has to find a way around this situation - if you only have one drummer, then great! They can play the drum kit and away you go.

The issue can happen when you have multiple drummers in the band, sometimes two, four, eight or ten! One way that works very effectively and has been used for many years is to have one player playing snare drum, one playing bass drum, and one cymbal player, even if you have a "drum kit" part written out. If you have this type of band I recommend having this setup at all times, and making the students stand up to play the snare drum. You then have the cymbals and concert bass drum, and its designed to be played by three players all the time.

Have an Auxilliary Percussion Table - and make them stand up to play at all times

There is nothing worse than vaguely hearing a shaker or tambourine in a school band, and struggling to see the person sitting on a chair behind the drummer!

When playing tambourine, triangle or shaker - these instruments are often more critical to the sound of the band than the snare drum or drum set, so therefore they must be taken really seriously.. by the band director as well as by the players.

So always have a "traps" table with everything in easy reach. Its not too expensive to make one or buy one of the available professional ones.

The players must always stand up to play, and have their music stand set up so that they can look immediately over it at the band conductor.

Warming up - please don't ignore us!

I've been a percussionist in a school band... there is nothing more frustrating that spending your time sitting in the school band room while you wait for the wind players to tune up and warm up. Often the band director will spend up to half an hour warming the players up - and expect the percussionists to remain quiet during that time.

How to deal with it?

- If you're going to warm up for half an hour.... Tell the percussion section to arrive later than the rest! - it makes no difference to you and its better than them being a distraction!

- Why not send them into a different room for their own section rehearsal during this time? Get a specialist teacher or assistant to work with them on their parts

- Use predefined warm-up routines that go along with what you are doing with the wind players. (doesn't always work, but can do depending on the materials you have)

Be prepared to supplement the band book

When I helped out with beginner bands I found it necessary to supplement the band books that the students were using with additional materials - often the materials are not interesting or they don't have enough variety to keep the students engaged in the materials.

They'll need lots of work on basic rudiments and rolls - often the band books don't address those things early enough. So therefore you may be able to supplement it with other material which is available online and in books.

Everyone playing mallets?

I'm going to leave this up to you - it depends on the different personalities in each of the bands you have. One popular series of band books the "standard of excellence" has snare drum/bass drum on the left hand pages of the book, and mallet percussion on the right. Another type the "essential elements" has one snare drum and one mallet percussion book.

I think that percussionists should rotate and do as much as possible, and if that means that they each need two books, whereas every other member of the band needs only one.. then that's the way it should be!

There are no quick fixes to make percussion better in the beginner band, but hopefully this article can give you one or two ideas that will help!

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