Teaching the Beginning Percussionist
An Interactive Article Featuring Audio & Video Lessons

by Mark Wessels

For the non-percussionist band director, teaching the beginning percussion class can be a daunting experience. To be fair, the first time that I stepped in front of a beginning clarinet class it scared me to death! What I desperately wanted was someone to tell me exactly what to do to give my students the best chance for success - sort of like a Clarinet for Dummies book!

That's why I've put together this extensive article that will not only tell you, but show you the techniques that are often too vague to explain. I encourage you to grab a pair of sticks and a practice pad and play along to the exercises! You can't learn this stuff by reading - you have to DO it to understand the techniques involved. One of my favorite sayings sums it up:

Tell me: I forget
Show me: I remember
Involve me: I learn

To get started, click here!

This article incorporates audio and video clips excerpted from A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum Instructional CD-ROM. Designed as a "practice companion" for the beginning percussionist, this CD-ROM features audio lessons to every line in the book, as well as play-along practice files with cool audio accompaniments and video lessons on the techniques and rudiments.

If you would like more information on this revolutionary new method book, click here.

Table of Contents

p.1   The Grip/Matched or Traditional? p.8   Double Stroke (Open) Roll
p.2   The 5 Basic Strokes/The Rebound Stroke p.9   Single Paradiddle
p.3   Controlled Stroke (Downstroke) p.10  Five Stroke Roll
p.4   Upstroke p.11  The Alternating Flam
p.5   Tap Strokes p.12  Flow Sticking/Tapping the Foot
p.6   The Bounce Stroke/Multiple Bounce p.13  Teaching Beginners to Read Keyboard Music
p.7   Rudiments/Single Stroke Roll

 

Copyright 2003 • Pearl Corporation • http://www.pearldrum.com