Warm-up Your Percussion Section
Regularly, I note percussion sections (or players within the section) that don’t warm-up with the band. Not only does this set them apart as not belonging to the group, it is a lost opportunity for the percussionists to develop basic fun- damentals on the different instruments in the percussion section. Rotating percussionists through the instruments during the warm-ups is crucial so each percussionist is addressing some weaknesses. Many warm-up books such as Superior Bands in Sixteen Weeks and Foundations for Superior Performance include percussion parts. If you are using a warm-up book without percussion parts, give out flute, bassoon, and/or low brass books to percussion to read on the keyboards. Write out a few basic rudiments to use as patterns for the accompaniment. Regardless of how you accommodate them, they do need to be active during this time to practice fundamentals and hopefully avoid injuries. Lastly, I find follow-the-conductor type warm-ups particu- larly effective at engaging the percussion section. Tey tend not to look up and these types of activities in warm-ups can help alleviate similar problems throughout rehearsal.
In Closing
A strong, musical percussion section can greatly enhance an ensemble. Pro-active attention to the percussion sec- tion alleviates many distractions, such as missed entrances, set-up issues, missing instrument switches, among others. Engaging your percussionists helps them feel like equal members of your ensemble and makes them more receptive to your input and requests. Lastly, never be afraid to have a percussionist come in to help your students or provide suggestions. Tey deal with complex logistical and musical issues with percussion regularly and are happy to help pass that knowledge on to students.
References Cook, Gary. Teaching percussion. 3rd ed. Schirmer, 2005.
Dr. Brandon L. Haskett is an Associate Professor of Music at Saginaw Valley State University where he teaches music education and world music courses, percussion ensemble, and steel band. He received his DMA in Music Education from Arizona State University where he also received a Masters in Music Performance.
Central Michigan University School of Music
2018 Music Major Auditions January 19 • February 9 & 10 • February 24 • March 16
musicadmit@cmich.edu • (989) 774-1950
Facebook.com/CMUSchoolofMusic Twitter: @CMUMusicSchool
www.music.cmich.edu
CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity within its community (see
www.cmich.edu/aaeo).
16
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
