The Lewisville High School Percussion Cluster is led by Quiyan Murphy. There are four middle schools, in addition to the high schools, in which Mr. Murphy oversees the percussion program. We are excited to have him assist with some beginner and 7th grade percussion classes this year at DeLay Middle School! The DeLay Middle School Percussion program required materials include: Metronome ( online version) Bell Kit and Practice Pad Mark Wessels, Fresh Approach to Mallet Mark Wessels, Fresh
Approach to Snare
Innovative Percussion FP2 Mallet Package
Percussion Links: Percussive
Arts SocietyVic
FirthInnovative PercussionLoan Star
Percussion
Percussion Pedagogy: Speed NotesMark Wessels' Lessons40 Essential Snare Drum RudimentsDrum DatabaseMore Videos like this can be found at Harvey's YouTube Channel Percussion Playlist. David Skidmore's Percussion 101The following are links to the Percussion 101 lessons:
KEYBOARD
PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
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01:
Characteristics and Maintenance
Covering the
characteristics
for all the keyboard
instruments, including
a discussion of proper beating
areas
and general maintenance tips for
replacing
cord, fixing posts and stopping
rattle
sounds. |
06:
XYLOPHONE
Specific
instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the
xylophone. |
02:
Setup and Playing Position
A discussion of
general
set up tips for all keyboard
instruments, including
moving around the instrument and feet
positioning. |
07:
GLOCKENSPIEL / BELLS
Specific
instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the bells. |
03:
The Grip and Basic Stroke
Instructions for
gripping
mallets and performing relaxed
strokes on
all the keyboard instruments.
Including mallet
positioning on the bars. |
08:
VIBRAPHONE
Specific
instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the
vibraphone.
Including an overview of dampening
techniques. |
04:
Sticking Considerations
General
suggestions making
sticking choices on all the keyboard
instruments.
Including when to use double sticking
patterns. |
09:
MARIMBA
Specific
instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the
marimba.
Including moving throughout the
registers with
foot positioning. |
05:
Rolls
A guide for
developing
consistent sounding sustained rolls
for all
the keyboard instruments, as well as
how to
connect rolls from note to note. |
10:
CHIMES
Specific
instrument characteristics,
setup and playing techniques for the
chimes. |
Additional
Reference:
Gary Burton's Vibraphone Masterclass
Legendary jazz vibist Gary Burton gives a detailed
video
lesson series on the Vibes, from it's history to all of the common
playing techniques:
4 mallet grip, stroke, sticking recommendations, pedaling and mallet
dampening. |
Additional
Reference:
Giff Howarth's 4 Mallet Lesson Series
The most extensive reference available online for
learning
the Musser/Stevens 4 mallet grip for marimba. |
Additional
Reference:
Speed Note Reading Tutor
An online video game designed to get students
reading notes
quickly in a fun format. Excerpted from Mark Wessels' “A Fresh Approach
to Mallet Percussion” method book. |
Additional
Reference:
Ney Rosauro's Extended Cross Grip
Lesson Series
Renowned performer and composer Ney Rosauro gives an
detailed
explanation of the extended cross grip, an easy-to-learn method of
gripping 4
mallets that immediately applies to all the instruments. |
Additional
Reference:
Teaching the Beginning Mallet Player
Noted author Mark Wessels discusses the inherent
problems
with learning to read on the keyboard percussion instruments. Presenting
a list
of solutions and strategies for developing the musical percussionist. |
Additional
Reference:
Vic Firth Concert Podcast
The most extensive collection of video performances
from
percussion soloists and ensembles. A great resource for exposing
students
of all ages and ability levels to the wide range of musical genres in
percussion.
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SNARE
DRUM
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01:
Instrument and Head Selection
A
demonstration of
the most common types of snare
drums
and suggestions for head selection. |
11:
Flams
A
fundamental approach
to playing flams, both single
hand and
alternating. Including
suggestions for
playing soft flams and achieving
a consistency
of sound. |
| 02:
Care and Maintenance |
12:
Sticking Methods
A
demonstration of
Lead Hand and Alternating
sticking methods,
including the pros and cons of
each system. |
03:
Head Replacement and Tuning
Covering top and
bottom
head replacement and maintenance,
including
detailed instructions on tuning for a
good
concert drum sound. |
13:
Ruffs
The basics for
playing
ruffs: multiple bounce, double bounce,
4 stroke
and 5 stroke ruffs. Including a
discussion
of which type of ruff (and sticking
for the
ruff) is appropriate for the music. |
04:
Stick Selection and Characteristic
Sound
Including a
demonstration
of how various playing areas and
muffling can
effect the sound of the drum. |
14:
Alternative Sounds
A demonstration of
other
implements that may be used to achieve
a variety
of sounds and tonal colors: brushes,
dreadlocks
and rute. |
05:
Proper Setup and Playing Position
Setting the drum
up to
the proper height and position for the best
playing
posture. |
Additional
Reference:
Mark Wessels' Beginning Snare Drum Lesson Series
An extensive video lesson series based on ”A Fresh
Approach
to the Snare Drum,” designed as a progressive approach for the beginning
student. |
06:
The Grip
Instructions for
gripping
the sticks in the matched grip. |
Additional
Reference:
40 Essential Rudiments
A great resource for practicing your rudiments, with
exercises and playalong tracks for each level of student. Including
video demonstrations
of each rudiment performed open-close-open style by Dr. John Wooton. |
07:
The Basic Stroke (Rebound / Legato
Stroke)
Presenting the
fundamental
stroke for independent right and left
hand
strokes independently, as well as
three important
rudiments: alternating strokes (single
stroke
roll), double strokes (long roll) and
paradiddles. |
Additional
Reference:
Norm Weinberg's WebRhythms
A series of articles designed to teach rhythm
reading from
the most basic to very advanced. Includes play along files for various
skill
levels and downloadable PDF files of the exercises. |
08:
Roll Fundamentals
An approach to
develop the multiple bounce and double
bounce roll. Including when multiple and
double bounce
rolls are appropriate. |
Additional
Reference:
Mark Wessels’ Rudimental Technique
14 fundamental exercises with video lessons designed
for
the beginning to intermediate snare drummer. |
09:
Metered and Unmetered Rolls
Selecting the
stroke speed
to produce a smooth sustained roll
sound. Also
including a discussion of various roll
bases
for different tempos. |
Additional
Reference:
Jeff Queen's “The Next Level” Rudimental Technique
Exercises and video explanations by rudimental
master Jeff
Queen that is designed to take the intermediate player to the advanced
level. |
10:
Tied and Untied Rolls
Instructions on
how to
play rolls that are not tied to a
release note |
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TIMPANI
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01:
Instrument Characteristics and General
Maintenance
An overview of the
timpani and
tips how to maintain and transport the
instrument.
Including an extensive article on replacing
timpani
heads. |
09:
Articulation and Stroke Speed
Using stroke speed
to create
more articulation without changing
mallets. |
02:
Setup
Suggestions for properly
positioning
the drums, music stand and mallet tray. |
10:
Mallet Selection
An overview of
some of
the sound possibilities possible using
a variety
of mallets. |
03:
Grip and Basic Stroke
Presenting the
fundamentals of
gripping the sticks (French, German,
American), proper
beating area and playing with a relaxed,
full stroke. |
Additional
Reference: Interval Recognition Chart
A collection of tunes for all of
the
intervals, ascending and decending. |
04:
Sticking Considerations
A discussion of
alternating,
leading-hand, cross-over and double sticking
techniques. |
Additional
Reference: Replacing/Clearing Timpani
Heads
Including complete
instructions
on replacing a timpani head, clearing
(tuning)
it, and adjusting the pedals. |
05:
Rolls
Suggestions for
developing a
relaxed sustaining roll sound on timpani.
Including
a discussion of roll speed and moving from
drum to
drum. |
Additional
Reference: Tim Genis Timpani Clinic
Presented at the
2007 PAS
International Convention by Tim Genis
(timpanist
for the Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
06:
Muffling
The basics for
stopping
the sound with the fingers, including
muffling
for note length and for clarity. |
Additional
Reference: Stuart Marrs on Elliott
Carter
Watch Stuart
perform and
examine “March” from Elliott Carter's
“Eight
Pieces for Four Timpani” |
07:
Tuning
Learning to sing and
hear
pitches as well as transferring the
pitch to
the drum. Including finding the best
drum for
a given pitch. |
Additional
Reference: Recovering Timpani Mallets
Including an
instructional
video on how to recover your Vic Firth
American
Custom® Timpani mallets. |
08:
More Tuning Recommendations
Covering other
tuning topics:
singing intervals, tuning with a tuning
fork,
sympathetic resonance and tuning etiquette. |
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TAMBOURINE
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01:
Instrument Characteristics and
Striking Techniques
A discussion
of the
basic playing techniques for
playing slow
and fast rhythmic passages on the
tambourine.
Including various striking
techniques to
get a wide variety of sounds. |
02:
Rolls
A guide for
learning
to play shake rolls and thumb
rolls. As
includes how to play crescendo
rolls. |
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