PERCUSSION
IT ’ S THE LITTLE THINGS | Mark Shelton
“ The dimpled brass jingles seemed okay , but the copper has a bit more sparkle . Yeah , I ’ m going with the copper .”
“ What ’ s your opinion ? Should I use the 16 ” or 18 ” cymbals ?”
“ Do you hear that buzz coming from the bass drum ? It ’ s driving me crazy .”
“ No , the copper jingles sound too bright , but I ’ m liking the German silver . I ’ m definitely using the German silver .”
Percussionists can get deep in the weeds over details , but little things matter in music .
The following paragraphs contain examples of details that will improve performance and avert disaster .
HIT THE SPOT As you learn to play the cross-stick rim shot on the snare drum , you soon discover that the sound has a clarity and focus when a specific area of the stick strikes the rim . You know it when you hit it , and you know when you don ’ t . Just a fraction of an inch makes a difference . It ’ s super-easy to guarantee success ; find a stick ’ s optimal rim shot area and use a marker to draw a ring around the stick at the sweet spot . Take aim and hit a great rim shot every time .
BUZZ KILL — IN A GOOD WAY If you are playing a cymbal on a stand , you must have some type of cushioning to prevent metal-on-metal buzzing between the mounting post / base and the cymbal . In most cases , the solution is a sleeve and a felt washer . Percussionists learn this early on , but somehow those little items seem to vanish . Stock up on both items and keep extras in your gear case .
SEE THE SEAM On a cartwheel-type timpani mallet , the ends of the felt strip covering are sewn together . When the seam area strikes the timpani head , the stitching can cause a slight tick in the tone . If the seams on your mallets were not marked by The difference between very good and excellent often lies in the small details . Attention to minute elements can lift music to greater heights . Conversely , ignoring the tiny stuff can undermine an otherwise fine performance and even lead to calamity .
Are you taking care of the little things ?
100 June 2024 Subscribe for Free ...