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Books and Supplies Recs

Overview


For a little financial perspective: during the 2014-15 school year, the average full-time University student at a four-year public university in the United States spent $1225 on books and supplies; at four-year private colleges $1244 - Chicago Tribune statistics Aug. 2015. I am confident the average YSU percussion major is expected to pay far less, nonetheless, percussion education expenditures are significant, as they extend to mallets, sticks, instruments, ear plugs, metronome, audio/video recorder, etc.

Concert snare drum and stand. I recommend keeping the drum in a soft-bag case. 

Practice pad drum and stand (use the same stand as for your concert snare drum).  Convert any 8-14" drum, whether snare or tom-tom, into a permanent practice drum. Purchase a Remo Silent Stroke Drumhead for the batter side, as these are terrific practice drumheads that prove very responsive, durable, and are ideal for developing long free strokes, rebound, Moeller techniques, finger stroke control, etc. Use any regular mylar resonant or batter head for the resonant side. Bring drum, stand, and concert snare sticks to Seminar, Private and Group Lessons. Gum rubber practice pads such as Vic Firth, Salyers - silicone, Reel Feel, HP Percussion, etc and snare drum stands are fine for other uses.

Required Supplies - Store these in your percussion locker by the first day of classes:

    • Concert style snare drum and stand. I recommend a soft-bag case. After I hear your drum, we may convert it to a concert-style sound with appropriate batter and resonant heads, cable snares, and batter head dampening in order to practice rudimental and symphonic snare drum repertoire.
    • Gum Rubber Practice Pad and stand (same snare stand as for your concert SD). Gum Rubber pads (10-13” diameter) by Salyers 12” model, ProLogix-Russ Miller model, Vic Firth, ProMark, etc. work well. Aquarian Superpad for less rebound.  
    • 2 drum keys. Bring to all applied percussion and PE events. 
    • Hearing Protection/Ear Plugs. Cheapest musically functional option for our lessons, rehearsal, and practice purposes, are the Hearos High Fidelity or Vic Firth High Fidelity plugs. Both are virtually the same, approximately $18, purchase no higher than 20-25 dB sound attenuation. Bring to all lessons and rehearsals. Cheap foam plugs are not acceptable for a musician, but good for chain saws or jack hammers.
    • Metronome - either a stand-alone electronic metronome such as Tama Rhythm Watch, Dr. Beat, or a mobile phone metronome app such as Tempo with headphones or musicians in-ear monitors.
    • Sticks, Mallets, Case: the essentials 
    •    •Concert Snare sticks, Options include the Vic Firth Symphonic Collection Greg Zuber Nothung model $39.00 a persimmon/birch stick. Innovative Percussion IP-1 General Concert Hickory model, or the IP-JC James Campbell hickory model. I’m not as fond of the Vic Firth SD-1 as maple sticks run very light for their size.
    •    •Drumset sticks, Vic Firth 5A size/weight hickory, wood tip, acorn or barrel shape or George Kollias Signature (5AB tapered barrel tip). Nylon tip is ok for practice to save money.

•Retractable Wire Brushes with wire end ring – Vic Firth Heritage Brush or equivalent

•Keyboard Mallets – Dragonfly Percussion. Marimba/Vibes model medium/hard MH4. Can even be used for soft xylo practice

•Timpani Mallets - Vic Firth, Tim Genis Signature Series, Gen 5 Tonal = a good first pair.  Tim Genis recommends purchase order of Gen 5 Tonal, Gen 6 Hard Tonal, Gen 1 Roller, Gen 7 Dolce Articulate.

•Stick/Mallet Bag - A large mallet bag such as Vic Firth SBAG2, Mike Balter, Innovative Percussion, etc. or a large briefcase for storing mallets. 

• Kratt Master Key MK-2 Chromatic Pitch Pipe.

 •Soft hand towel for cleaning timpani

•Manuscript Paper, 8.5x11” loose-leaf manuscript paper, three-hole punched

•Three-ring notebook, 1.5" size with loose-leaf ruled paper 

Here are the books I typically use with my new students for rhythm, snare drum, keyboard, timpani, and drumset. Most should be available from Steve Weiss Music.com and they are a great place to order your music, books, and mallets because they have most items in-stock and ship same-day if ordered by 2pm. I also support Columbus Percussion, as my friend Jim Rupp is the owner and they are very helpful. Please call them to see what they have in-stock or can get quickly. Amazon might provide better prices but only buy on Amazon if the items are actually in-stock; do not settle for non-stock items as many take way too long to arrive for our instructional purposes. I plan to begin with these materials early in the semester. See the Links tab on our website for various retailers.

 

Books most typically used of freshmen 


GS sells direct to students:

  • Schaft, Glenn–Fascinating Rhythms 
  • Schaft, Glenn – Chops & Concepts, 2018  edition
     

Buy from retailers:
 

  • Garwood Whaley––Basics In Rhythm, 2003.
  • Stone, George Lawrence — Stick Control. 1935.
  • Peters, Mitchell — Intermediate Studies For Snare Drum, 1976. Excellent etudes for all levels.
  • Charles Wilcoxon — Modern Rudimental Swing Solos. 1941.
  • Johnson, Mark, Etudes, classical melodies, 136p., 2 mallet, rec. by Doug Walter
  • Peters, Mitchell — Fundamental Method for Mallets. Vol. 1. Excellent introductory 2 and 4 mallet text.
  • Peters, Mitchell — Fundamental Method for Timpani. Excellent general text.
  • Rothman, Joel. Drumming and All That Jazz
     
  •  

Recommended books:


Snare Drum Books
 

  • Bachman, Bill–Rhythm & Chops Builders, 2017
  • Black, Dave & Sandy Feldstein-Alfred’s Drum Method, Book 1.-beginner text
  • Cirone, Anthony — Portraits In Rhythm, 1966.
  • Delecluse, Jacques — Douze Etudes, 1964
  • Delecluse, Jacques — Keiskleiriana 1, 1987
  • Delecluse, Jacques — Studio M 1, 2004          
  • Delecluse, Jacques — Initium II, 1977, focus on subdivision
  • Delecluse, Jacques — Initium IV, 1978, focus on subdivision
  • Delecluse, Jacques —  Methode de Caisse-Claire, 1969
  • Firth, Vic  — The Solo Snare Drummer, 1968
  • Gardner, Carl — Gardner Modern Method, 1919
  • Gauthreaux, Guy, II –- Six Classic Snare Drum Solos
  • Goldenberg, Morris —Modern School For Snare Drum, 1955
  • James, William–The Modern Concert Snare Drum Roll
  • Percussive Arts Society–International Drum Rudiments, 1984. Compiled by Jay Wanamaker and Rob Carson 
  • Peters, Mitchell — Advanced Snare Drum Studies, 1971.
  • Peters, Mitchell–Elementary Snare Drum Studies, 1988. Excellent beginning level text.
  • Peters, Mitchell — Intermediate Studies For Snare Drum, 1976. Excellent etudes for all levels.
  • Peters, Mitchell — Etudes for Snare Drum. 2003.
  • Peters, Mitchell–Developing Dexterity
  • Pratt, John–The New Pratt Book, 1985.
  • Rich, Buddy, Hernry Adler, rev. Mackenzie–Buddy Rich’s Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments, 1942, 2005
  • Schaft, Glenn – Snare Drum Chops & Concepts, 2018 edition
  • Sholle, Emil–Here’s The Drum. Vol. 1 & 2, 1959. Excellent beginning level texts.
  • Stone, George Lawrence — Stick Control. 1935.
  • Weiner, Richard — Etudes For Snare Drum, 2011. 
  • Whaley, Garwood–Primary Handbook for Snare Drum
  • Wilcoxon, Charley — Modern Rudimental Swing Solos. 1941.
  • Wilcoxon, Charley–All American Drummer; 150 Solos
  • Wooten, John - Drummers Rudimental Reference Book.
     

Drum Set Books
 

  • Appice, Carmine–Ultimate Realistic Rock
  • Berry, Mick, Jason Gianni, The Drummer’s Bible, 2004
  • Burns, Roy & Sandy Feldstein–Drum Set Music
  • Chaffee, Gary–Patterns Series–Sticking Patterns, Time Functioning Patterns, Technique Patterns
  • Chaffee, Gary, Linear Time Playing, 1993
  • Clark, Mike – Funk Drumming: Innovative Grooves and Advanced Concepts, 2005
  • Dahlgren, Marvin & Elliot Fine–4-Way Coordination
  • Davis, Steve – Jazz Drummers: Masters of Time
  • Dowd, Charles – A Funky Primer for the Rock Drummer
  • Duduka Da Fonseca and Bob Weiner — Brazilian Rhythms for Drumset (CD)
  • Brian Fullen — Jazz Standards for Drumset, Play-Along 
  • Guiliana, Mark, Exploring Your Creativity On The Drumset, 2016
  • Hartigan, Royal–West African Rhythms for Drumset
  • Joseph, Jonathan, Exercises in African-American Funk, Mangambe, Bikutsi, and the Shuffle, 2015
  • Malabe, Frank and Bob Weiner — Afro Cuban Rhythms for Drumset (CD)
  • Mayer, Jojo. Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer.Hudson Music (DVD)
  • Mintz, Billy, Different Drummers, 1975
  • Moio, Dom, Be-Bop Phrasing For Drums, 1997
  • Morgan, Tom–The Jazz Drummers Reading Workbook, w. download tracks, chart reading
  • Nussbaum,Adam/Smith,Steve. TheArtofPlayingwithBrushes.HudsonMusic(DVD)
  • O’Mahoney, Terry, Motivic Drumset Soloing, 2004
  • Pickering, John—Mel Bay’s Studio/Jazz Drum Cookbook. Excellent jazz comping patterns.
  • Ramsay, John – The Drummer’s Complete Vocabulary as taught by Alan Dawson
  • Reed, Ted—Syncopation
  • Riley, Jim Survival Guide for the Modern Drummer, PlayAlong
  • Riley, John–The Art of Bop Drumming
  • Riley, John – Beyond Bop Drumming
  • Riley, John – The Jazz Drummer’s Workshop – Advanced Concepts for Musical Development 
  • Rothman, Joel–Drumming and All That Jazz (1st)
  • Rothman, Joel–Extraordinnarily Phenomenal Jazz Drum Book (2nd)
  • Rothman, Joel–Four-Way Independence For Jazz Drumming (3rd)
  • Rothman, Joel–Rock Bible of Coordination
  • Rothman, Joel–Jazz Bible of Coordination
  • Rothman, Joel, Mini-Monster Book of Rock Drumming, 1981
  • Smith, Steve. Drum Techniques and the History of the U.S. Beat . Hudson Music (DVD). 
  • Smith, Steve. Drum Legacy: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.Hudson Music (DVD). 
  • Stanoch, David–Mastering The Tables of Time, 2008
  • Thompson, Rich – Jazz Solos, volume 1
  • Uribe, Ed – The Essence of Afro-Cuban Percussion
  • Uribe, Ed – The Essence of Brazilian Percussion & Drum Set 
  • Xepoleas, John, Essintial Drum Lessons With The Greats, 2012
  • Zoro -The Commandments of R&B Drumming. R&B, Soul, and Funk ( CD).

 

Timpani Books
 

  • Carroll, Raynor–Exercises, Etudes, and Solos for the Timpani
  • Friese/Lepak-The Complete Timpani Method
  • Goodman, Saul–Modern Method for Tympani
  • Hochrainer, Richard–Etudes for Timpani, Vol. 1 & 2, German style setup so stickings are reversed
  • Max, Randy, Orchestral Excerpts for Timpani
  • Peters, Mitchell — Fundamental Method for Timpani. Excellent general text.
  • Stubbs, Amy, The Art of Timpani Mallet Making : Stubbs Percussion, 2012 
  • Tafoya, John, The Working Timpanist’s Survival Guide 
  • Whaley, Garwood–Primary Handbook for Timpani, good beginner level text
  • Yanchich, Mark - Changing and Tuning Plastic Timpani Heads, DVD
  • Yanchich, Mark–Sewing Felt Timpani Sticks, DVD

 

Keyboard Books
 

  • Friedman, David — Vibraphone Technique - dampening and pedaling technique & etudes.
  • Gottry, Josh–Two Steps Forward, beginning 2-mallet method, 34 etudes, 6 solos, no nursery melodies.
  • Hammond-Wood, Jason, Mainstream Mallets, Tapspace Pub, transcriptions, w. opt pn. acc and contains pn audio tracks
  • Heinrich, Panofka, Vocalises, Opus 81. w. pn acc
  • Islas, Patricia–Momentum. 2020. method for two-mallets, exercises, etudes, and solos designed to develop the physical and musical skills necessary for self-expression through two-mallet percussion. The solos are physically challenging, musically mature, and composed to sound cool enough to be worth the effort.   
  • Johnson, Mark, Etudes, classical melodies, 136p., 2 mallet, rec. by Doug Walter, A collection of 85 traditional 2-mallet pieces for study, performance or sight-reading. This collection would be viable as either a basic method book or as a supplement to other mallet methods. Requires a 4-octave marimba, most pieces can also be played on xylophone and/or vibraphone.
  • Morgan, Tom–The Musical Marimbist, 20 two-mallet etudes, grand staff, 4.3oct.
  • Lipner, Arthur–The Vibes Real Book
  • Peters, Mitchell — Fundamental Method for Mallets. Vol. 1. Excellent introductory text. Include 2 and 4 mallet sections.
  • Peters, Mitchell — Fundamental Method for Mallets. Vol. 2. Excellent intermediate text. Include 2 and 4 mallet sections.
  • Roulet, Patrick, Intermediate Studies for Developing Artists on Keyboard Percussion
  • Stevens, Leigh Howard — Method Of Movement. Definitive treatise on four mallet technique and exercises.
  • Wessels, Mark–A Fresh Approach to Mallet Percussion, Beginner level text, 2 mallets.
  • Whaley, Garwood–Primary Handbook For Mallets, 1980. Excellent beginner text, 2 mallets.
  • Whaley, Gardwood–Fundamental Studies For Mallets, 1974. Companion to Whaley-Primary Handbook. Short etudes by various composers.

 

Hand Percussion
 

  • Kalani-Hand Percussion, 2008. Overview of 47 instruments
  • Spiro, Michael–Conga Drummer’s Guidebook.
  • Gajate-Garcia, Richie–Play Congas Now

 

Rhythm:
 

  • Bellson, Louis & Gil Breines–Modern Reading Text in 4/4
  • Bellson, Louis & Gil Breines–Odd Time Reading Text
  • Chaffee, Gary–Rhythm & Meter Patterns
  • Stanoch, David–Mastering The Tables of Time, 2008
  • Whaley, Garwood–Basics In Rhythm
  • Whaley, Garwood–More Basics In Rhythm

 

Orchestral Repertoire
 

  • Carlyss, Gerald, Symphonic Repertoire for Timpani: The Brahms & Tchaikovsky Symphonies 
  • Carlyss, Gerald, Symphonic Repertoire for Timpani: The Nine Beethoven Symphonies
  • Carroll, Raynor, Orchestral Repertoire for the Snare Drum
  • Carroll, Raynor, Orchestral Repertoire for the Glockenspiel (Vol. 1&2)
  • Carroll, Raynor, Orchestral Repertoire for the Xylophone (Vol. 1&2)
  • Carroll, Raynor, Orchestral Repertoire for the Bass Drum and Cymbals
  • Carroll, Raynor, Orchestral Repertoire for the Tambourine, Triangle and Castanets
  • Cirone, Anthony, Symphonic Repertoire for Cymbals
  • Cirone, Anthony, Symphonic Repertoire for Snare Drum
  • Genis, Tim, Symphonic Repertoire for Percussion Accessories
  • Tafoya, John , Beyond the Audition Screen
  • Van Geem, Jack, Symphonic Repertoire for Keyboard Percussion 

 

Other Resources:
 

  • Blades, James. Percussion Instruments and Their History . Westport, Connecticut: Bold Strummer, Rvsd 2005.
  • Brennan, Matt. Kick It. Oxford University Press, 2020 
  • Cook, Gary–Teaching Percussion, Enhanced Third Edition, 2019.
  • Schick, Steven. The Percussionist’s Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams.University of Rochester Press, 2006. 
  • Siwe, Thomas. Artful Noise: percussion literature in the twentieth century. University of Illinois Press, 2020. 
  • Udow, Michael. Percussion Pedagogy: a practical guide for studio teachers. Oxford University Press, 2019.