Tag: percussion

The Percussion Circle – Issue #4: All Paradiddle Issue!

James Christian

 

Paradiddles abound in issue #4! Scroll down to read.

This is our summer issue, and it’s all about the paradiddles! As always, the music and articles are free to print and copy. (If you missed previous issues, you can read them here.)

In this issue, every article contains exercises—all centered around the paradiddle family—that can be played individually or as an entire drum line. If you practice diligently, you’ll find that these doing a great job of building your coordination and chops. These would be great for your entire section to practice during the summer.

Be sure to share this issue with students, percussion teachers, and anyone you know who might find it helpful. Enjoy!

Here is issue #4 of The Percussion Circle:

Read more “The Percussion Circle – Issue #4: All Paradiddle Issue!”

The Percussion Circle – Issue #3

James Christian

Spring percussion is in the air!
     The Percussion Circle #3 is in your care.
Enjoy music for marimba and snare;
     If you like it, be sure to share!

It’s our spring percussion issue! (Read previous issues here.) We have some great articles, exercises, and music prepared for you—with some new twists. As always, the music and articles are free to print and copy. Be sure to spread the word far and wide. Share it with students, friends, music teachers, and fellow percussionists!

Please let us know your thoughts on this issue, and don’t forget to order your t-shirt of this issue’s cover! Enjoy!

Here is issue #3 of The Percussion Circle:

Read more “The Percussion Circle – Issue #3”

The Percussion Circle – Issue #2

James Christian1 Comment

 

The second issue of The Percussion Circle is here! (If you missed issue #1, check it out here.) As always, this is free to copy and print. Please share with students, friends, and complete strangers. (Trust us. They’ll appreciate it.) Check out the “Name the Letter Column Contest.” Be sure to order your t-shirt of this issue’s cover. And write to us and let us know what you like, what we can improve, and what you’d like to see in the future.

Last but not least, we wish you a very happy New Year!

Here is issue #2 of The Percussion Circle:

Read more “The Percussion Circle – Issue #2”

Percussion Magazine: The Percussion Circle – Issue #1

James Christian2 Comments

We have been promising some big things for a while now. Well, this one is pretty exciting! We are now regularly publishing a percussion magazine. Allow us to introduce… (drum roll, please)… The Percussion Circle!

Each issue is full of sheet music, exercises, practice tips, contests, and more! This magazine is being released completely free to the entire percussion world. It is especially designed as a resource for percussion instructors and their students, but there is enough material to keep any percussionist happy for many hours.

Videos of the exercises in the articles will gradually be released after publication, so check back frequently. Better yet, subscribe to our e-mail list and follow our social media channels to make sure you never miss any updates.

To view the magazine in full screen, use the viewer below. Click on the square in the bottom right corner. You can zoom in and out from there. You can also print copies for your convenience. (This feature is currently only available on Chrome browsers. We are looking to expand this option.)

Finally, we want to give a special thank you to Keiser Southern Music and HingeStix for their efforts in making this first issue possible. Please show them some appreciation and visit their sites. (If you want to advertise with us, send an e-mail to advertise@rudimentaluniversity.com, and we will send you the details.)

Without further ado, here is the very first issue of The Percussion Circle: Read more “Percussion Magazine: The Percussion Circle – Issue #1”

How to Play Marching Tenor Drums, Part 2 of 7: Around Patterns

James Christian2 Comments

In part 1, we started with general movement principles, and we now come to basic around patterns with standard drum rudiments. This is the material I usually show first-time players on day one (exercises included below).

If you have been playing tenors for any length of time, these patterns should Read more “How to Play Marching Tenor Drums, Part 2 of 7: Around Patterns”

How to Play Marching Tenor Drums, Part 1 of 7: Basic Movement

James Christian

Over the years, many of my students have wanted to learn how to play marching tenor drums. As much as time allowed, I would work with them individually and share the resources I had. Unfortunately, I was limited by space and time. Some of the existing resources were helpful, but students still struggled to know how to go forward on their own. Well, I saw a need and decided to do something about it. In order to multiply my impact and provide a ton of new material, I Read more “How to Play Marching Tenor Drums, Part 1 of 7: Basic Movement”

Life/Work Balance for the Percussionist

James Christian

James Christian here.  With most posts on Rudimental University, I try to focus more on the percussive and musical side of things rather than talking about myself all the time.  However, if you can bear with me on this post, I need to talk about a few personal things to let you know what has been going on with the site.  I have had to Read more “Life/Work Balance for the Percussionist”

Three Ways to Use Tempo When Practicing Music

James Christian

 

Struggling with speed, accuracy, or pulse?  James describes three ways you can use different tempos to maximize your practice sessions. The following is a transcript of the video above (slightly reworded for readability):

 

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Hello, everyone.  This is James Christian with RudimentalUniversity.com. Today I would like to talk about three different ways you can use tempo to help you when practicing a piece of music.

I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while, and this last week several ideas came together.  I Read more “Three Ways to Use Tempo When Practicing Music”

How to Play 24th Notes, 40th Notes, and More!

James Christian

 

Do you know how to count 24th notes, 40th notes, or 48th notes? James walks you through some terminology that may just revolutionize your understanding of rhythm.  The following is a modified transcript of the video above:

 

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Hello, everybody. This is James Christian with RudimentalUniversity.com.

Today I want to talk about rhythm terminology. Most musicians don’t frequently deal with this particular concept I’m going to discuss, but drummers and percussionists deal with it all the time.

We’re used to whole notes, half notes, quarter, notes, 8th notes, 16th notes, etc.  And we also have tuplet patterns, such as half note triplets, quarter note triplets, 8th note triplets, 16th note triplets, and so forth. In this article, I’m going to talk about the way we discuss tuplet patterns and how we can make it a little bit easier.

This method is especially easier when you’re writing on the Internet and typing.  It also makes your terminology more consistent, regardless of the type of note you’re discussing. When you’re writing, this method will save space, and it’s just a nice shorthand for your terminology.

So here it is… Read more “How to Play 24th Notes, 40th Notes, and More!”

Timpani Exercise: 12 Bucks

James Christian
Click on the image to enlarge or click here to download in PDF format.

This exercise is a good warm-up for practicing tone quality and pedaling changes.  It goes through the circle of fifths, and each section incorporates the tonic and dominant of the key.  Like the other “12 Bucks” exercises this week, today’s timpani exercise can be played individually or with a group of percussionists.

This exercise can be played on three drums, but four will be easier.  The rhythms are not overly difficult, so it’s a good opportunity to focus on drawing a full tone from the drum on every stroke.  When playing with a group, you may want to use a medium hard mallet to produce slightly sharper articulation.

The main challenge on this exercise will be the pitch changes.  Gauges will certainly make the changes easier, but a well-trained timpanist can learn to “feel” the next pitch as he or she becomes more familiar with the specific set of drums used.  As always, use your ear and learn to adjust quickly, whether you have gauges or not.

Happy pedaling!