PERCUSSION
[ PROVERBS FOR PERCUSSIONISTS | Mark Shelton ]
“A wise man will hear, and will increase
learning…” ~ Proverbs 1:5 KJV
• A tambourine or shaker can be difficult to • Stick Control by George L. Stone is a
pick up quickly when lying flush against classic book that every percussionist
the surface of the trap table. Make a should have in their collection. You will
The Book of Proverbs provides timeless lessons “launching pad” with a strip of foam rubber find exercises to sharpen your skills with
condensed into concise verses. Massive so that the instrument can be positioned sticks, brushes, bare hands, and FEET.
wisdom, concentrated into short, easy-to-read for a quick grab.
statements!
While making no claims to Solomon-esque
smarts, I have gleaned a few nuggets of
percussion wisdom from teachers, conductors,
and authors, along with lessons learned during
countless rehearsals and performances. Taking
a cue from the writers of Proverbs, I offer
twenty percussion tips in a concise, bullet-point
format.
• Have pencil and paper at every rehearsal!
Never write on sheet music with ink. My
school band director dispensed that
advice to me sometime last century. Your
pencil should have an eraser. An old-
school pencil sharpener lives in my mallet
case.
• You can hit the sweet spot for the cross
• The triangle suspension system should stick rimshot without fishing for it. Just
always include two loops. One loop is for grab a felt tip pen and mark a ring around
suspension, while the other is the safety that area of the stick.
backup. The safety loop guards you from
the conductor’s “glare of death” when the
suspension loop breaks.
• A mounted tambourine is a worthwhile
investment. You will use it either by choice
or necessity.
• The decision to not play can be a musical
decision.
• Rudiments and Scales. Rudiments and
Scales. Rudiments and Scales!
• You should always be able to explain why
you played something. Dynamics, tone
quality, instrument selection, rhythmic
• Mark a line or dot on the seam of a
“cartwheel” timpani mallet. If you can see
choices, and phrasing should all be
• Listen and think like a producer when
making musical decisions.
the marking while playing, you know the
thoughtful decisions.
mallet is not producing extraneous sound
from the seam contacting the drum head.
• Download the app Percussion Tutor.
• A cymbal stacker and an LP Percussion
Claw come in handy when you are running
Packed with dozens of rhythms from Latin
America and Africa, this easy-to-navigate
tight on space for your percussion set-up. app features both notation and recordings
• Position the snare strainer directly in front be a great friend if the worship leader
of you. This places the snares directly
under the two main striking areas (the
center of the head and the area about
halfway between the center and the
counterhoop). You will notice better snare
response when playing directly over the
snares.
sticks? Upon your next purchase of sticks,
mark the pair with the purchase date or
for easy reference. Percussion Tutor can
some sort of code so that you can locate
the matched set in the mishmash of your
decides to play “10,000 Reasons” with a
stick bag.
Merengue groove.
• Learn about the function of clave rhythms
• Read about percussionists in the Bible.
The Old Testament accounts of Miriam,
in African and Latin American music.
Asaph, and King David’s rhythm section
serve as inspiring examples!
• Memorize the 3:2 and 2:3 son clave and
cascara rhythms, along with the Afro-
•
• Did you lose track of those “paired” drum
Cuban 6/8 pattern.
• Reflect on the gift of music. Be grateful
that you are a musician.
• The tumbao for congas and the martillo
for bongos are super important grooves.
Be able to play either one at a moment’s
notice.
38
December 2017
WorshipMusician.com