PERCUSSION COURSES
PERCUSSION IS AN ART
In most band classrooms across the globe, percussionists are more than just drummers. Percussionists are versatile artists who can play a multitude of musical instruments! This is not only key when playing our musical selections at our concerts here at school, but a marketable skill in the real world. Percussionists who are able to read both treble and bass clef, and adapt to playing a wide variety of percussive instruments are highly sought after to play in large ensembles, in madrigals and at large church services, professional drum corps, and to fill in for traveling artists like Beyoncé when they come to town. This all means not only good money but prestige and accolades to the musician.
WHAT WE PLAY ON ANY GIVEN DAY
Below you will see the percussion instruments our percussionists at RSMS either own at home to grow as musicians, or instruments they have access to on our campus. Students will play all of these instruments in the 4 years of Band that they take at RSMS. Students are assigned multiple instruments everyday to master, and as their directors we guide them onto the path of proficiency through our knowledge and selected method books (Which they must purchase for the class).
Snare Drum
Snare drum is the most well known instrument in a percussionist's arsenal. While the snare drum was originally used by foot soldiers as a signal-calling device in military environments, we use the snare drum to accent important rhythms and add a different timbre to the musical piece. The snare also helps drive the band's tempo and keeps everyone in line with the director. It has to be the most loved drum in any young percussionist's heart. Students do not have to have a snare of their own, but they can rent a kit from Music and Arts with a snare in it. A practice pad is a quieter substitute for at home snare practice.
Keyboard instruments such as the xylophone, marimba, bell set (glockenspiel), metallophone, and piano (we do not offer piano in our band classes currently) are all keyboard percussion instruments. These instruments have been around for thousands of years are are just as important to the modern percussionist as a snare drum. Keyboard instruments highlight important melodic passages within pieces. Many famous musicians are masters at these instruments to the point that they can play with 4 mallets at a time! Keyboard instruments offer many different timbres as well, depending on what the keys are fashioned from, manufactures use certain metals or rare and beautiful woods. Every well rounded percussionist can play keyboard instruments, which is why a concert bell set is included in the basic percussion kit offered by Music and Arts.
Keyboard
Instruments
Cymbals
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There are many types of cymbals in the world: Bell cymbals, China cymbals, Clash cymbals, Crash cymbals, Crash/Ride cymbals, Finger cymbals, Flat ride cymbals, Hi-hat... there are more than this in our big beautiful world! Cymbals are the great accenting force that Americans traditionally use in marches like Stars and Stripes Forever. While cymbals have been around for over 5,000 years and show up in many famous histories and battles; we can only guess that they were first made with bronze in the areas around Turkey, India, and China. Students in the RSMS band will be learning to play the Hi-hat, Suspended cymbals, and the RIde cymbal. To play these different cymbals students will use a variety of sticks and mallets to produce many different sounds. Cymbals are not offered in the percussion kit Music and Arts sells. Students do not need to own a cymbal of their own, we have four here at school.
The bass drum is one of the largest drums we will use in our classes. It has a rich low resonance that can be felt through the floors and out into the audience. The bass drum is the steady beat of the music and band, just like our own heart beats out a steady beat for our lives. The bass drum has also been around for thousands of years and we utilize it in our everyday classes. Every student will have the opportunity to play the bass drum almost daily. Bass drums are not offered in the percussion kit from Music and Arts and students do not need a bass drum at home.
Bass Drum
Timpani
TImpani are large kettle drums that are tuneable, meaning, the heads can be stretched or loosened to match a certain pitch. Originally from the 13th century in Germany, these drums were played for royalty. The pleasing timbre of this drum can often be heard in church madrigals, on soundtracks for movies, and in famous orchestras around the world. Students in our band learn to tune and play the timpani. Students usually play two to four timpani for a musical piece, sometimes two at the time! Timpani music isn't just about hitting the drum in the right place but also reading bass clef. Students often have to tune their drums at the beginning of a piece, and change the pitch halfway through and possibly back again for the ending! All percussionists are encouraged to play the timpani, but due to the number we own and the arrangement of music we generally purchase, students may only get to perform on the timpani for one concert a year. Timpani are not offered in the percussion kit from Music and Arts and students do not need timpani of their own at home. Students can practice playing the rhythms of the two drums at home using two practice pads, two pillows, two notebooks, etc. If students are serious about percussion, owning a pair of timpani sticks are a must.
Hand drums come from all over our world. They have been around for thousands upon thousands of years. Hand drums are traditionally played with your hands. Some hand drums you maybe familiar with are bongos, congas, and djembes. While many of these hand drums are still made in a traditional way, with animal skin stretched across the rims, many hand drums today are made with fibre skin, which is a synthetic substitute. Students at RSMS will be exposed to some of these traditional hand drums. Students will not be able to play these often due to the amount we have and to the orchestration of the pieces we purchase. Students will however learn how to play them correctly and in certain situations. Hand drums are not offered in the percussion kit offered through Music and Arts. Students are welcomed to own hand drums but that is not required to participate in the RSMS Band.
Hand
Drums
Drum
Set
The drum set was born of blues and jazz, and today you cannot hear a song on the radio that does not use the drum set. While the drum set is not an everyday kind of instrument that we use in band, more and more music we are ordering calls for it. Students who are responsible and can follow directions will be the people chosen to play on the drum set. The reason for this is the drum set is expensive. If you break a part of the drum set, the entire set has to be replaced. It is a set and it goes together, is the proper height for middle school students and a is true matching set. We do not have the funds to replace any parts of (or the whole) drum set once it is damaged. Students do not need a drum set of their own to participate in band, but we know they would love one. Our official stance on the drum set is, if you as a parent want to get one for them, please do. No part of a drum set you purchase will ever be asked to be brought onto campus.
Auxiliary Percussion is every little sound effect you can imagine from a piece of music that isn't a traditional wind instrument. Auxiliary percussive instruments include tambourine, sleigh bells, maracas, claves, shaker, whip, slide whistle, ratchet and so many other things, even anvils! These instruments add a certain flavor to the music that brings home the setting of the piece to the listener. While many students may think the triangle isn't cool, the famous Nutcracker song, The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy would not be the same without the triangle! Students will be assigned to auxiliary percussion for concert pieces every year. Everyone gets a turn with an auxiliary percussion instrument. Students do not need to purchase any of these instruments because they are provided in class.
Auxiliary
Percussion
WHAT BAND IS LIKE FOR PERCUSSIONISTS
Percussionists in RSMS Band have a different classroom experience than the other band students. Besides what we've discussed above, percussionists are granted a dual classroom advantage. What we mean by that is (most) percussionists get to learn from both Ms. Mathew- Ricks and Mrs. Gillespie. Depending on their assigned schedule (developed by both directors) students will travel between each class with their assigned group. Students will have two days a week with Ms. Mathew- Ricks learning about the finer points of drumming and auxiliary percussion, and students will spend two days a week with Mrs. Gillespie learning the ins and outs of melodic percussion instruments. Student's grades will be combined throughout the nine weeks into one gradebook for the office and student's ease of view in Powerschool.
Image from amromusic.com
WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL PERCUSSIONISTS
What students need in order to be successful in the RSMS Band's Percussion section, is threefold.
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One they have to have the right attitude. This attitude is of a hard worker who is willing to work alone for periods of time. During these times, they are willing to work through difficult passages, break apart rhythms, look up notes, and be a real self starter. Once that period of alone time is over, they must be ready to work with the teacher and ask any questions they have without being shy! Once any questions are asked, percussionists must be willing to work with the director one on one or in small groups!
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The second thing they need to be successful is a stick bag with sticks. A good back will include timpani sticks, yarn mallets, hard plastic mallets, drum sticks, and possibly a bass drum stick. Many come with a practice pad which is also essential to at home practice. If a stick bag does not come with a pad, parents can purchase one with or without a stand for at home use. Students will need to bring their stick bag with sticks daily. This bag will prepare students to play anything at any time anywhere!
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For students who are serious about percussion and wish to pursue it in high school and beyond, we also recommend purchasing a Percussion Kit from a reputable music store or past percussion student. These kits are key for at home practice. Students have to turn in practice sheets every month. It is more difficult to practice without a kit (but not impossible). Basic kits include concert bells, a snare (or you can opt for a practice pad), stands for each, a music stand, bell mallets and drumsticks. It is all packed into a rolling bag for easy transport back and forth from home to school. Parents can opt for a drum only kit or a bell only kit, but unless they already own a drum or bell set, it may be prudent to rent the kit that includes both. It is entirely up to the parents if they want to rent a kit with a real snare drum or a practice pad. A practice pad is quieter instrument than snare, which is ideal for the home. However, if you ever want your student to play in public at church and other venues, they will need a snare of their own.
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