Through lectures, demonstrations and group practise, students will become familiar with some of the most common percussion instruments. Some of the areas covered will be: hand grip, tone production, drum rudiments, percussion classification, percussion history, percussion notation, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, keyboard percussion, timpani, accessory percussion, drum set, Latin percussion, World percussion, percussion effects, electronic percussion, writing and arranging for percussion, setting up a percussion section, maintenance, and small ensemble playing.
As it is impossible to become proficient on a number of percussion instruments in a single semester, students will be expected to understand theoretical concepts that go beyond their personal playing abilities. Understanding the limitations and possibilities of the instruments will be valuable later on, therefore the written assignments and oral presentation will help evaluate the student’s understanding of this information.
Section I: Basic Concepts of Percussion Playing
- Tone Production
- Attack and Release of Tones
- Dynamic Contrasts
- Accents
- Stickwork
- Rhythm, Beat, Tempo, and Time
Section II: Rudiments of Snare Dumming
- Right Handhold
- Left Handhold
- The R. Stroke
- The L. Stroke
- Alternating the Strokes
- The Tap
- The Long Rolls
- The Short Rolls
- Accented Short Rolls
- The Flam
- The Flam Tap
- The Flam Accents #1 & #2
- The Drag
- Style
- Notation
- Introduction to the 26 Rudiments
- The Ruff
- The Paradiddles
Section III: Techniques of the following instruments will be taught by demonstration and participation
- The Bass Drum
- The Cymbals
- Tympani
- Other Percussion instruments:
- Triangle
- Woodblock
- Gong
- Latin American Rhythm Instruments
- Maracas
- Conga Drum
- Tambourine
- Castanets
- Dance Drumming
- Claves
- Bongos
- Cow Bell
The students will study all common percussion instruments including orchestral, band and Latin percussion. Both practical playing techniques and theoretical concepts will be taught, in order to prepare the student for effective teaching of percussion instruments at the Elementary, Junior and Senior Secondary levels. As the snare drum is recognized as the percussion instrument of basic concern to the school music teacher, it occupies a primary position in the sequence and scope of this course.
The successful student will be able to demonstrate:
- A basic knowledge of the theoretical concepts of percussion playing, including tone production, scoring, tuning, and proper maintenance of the most common percussion instruments.
- The ability to perform the most common snare drum rudiments, and to read and perform intermediate level snare drum parts.
- The ability to produce a proper tone and to play simple parts on percussion, and small percussion instruments.
Students will be expected to practise regularly on their practise pads for this course. A high percentage of the total mark is based on playing techniques, which stress hand grip, control, speed and accuracy.
| Snare drum tests | 10% |
| Mallet Keyboard tests | 10% |
| Snare duet composition | 10% |
| Midterm | 25% |
| Research assignment and In-class presentation | 20% |
| Percussion ensemble composition | 20% |
| End of term jury and overall attendance | 5% |
| Total | 100% |
A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.
Acceptance to University Transfer Music Program or permission of instructor.