Worship Musician Magazine March 2021 | Page 124

PERCUSSION
ROLLS : A QUICK WHAT , WHY , & HOW | Mark Shelton
Strike a snare drum once and listen . Very little length to that note . Strike a cymbal once and listen . Although the tone will sustain for several seconds , the sound will immediately begin to decay in volume after the attack .
Centuries ago , our percussive ancestors realized the need for sustain along with the ability to control it . Someone invented the roll . Not a perfect solution , but it ' s still the best we ' ve got .
A roll is the standard performance practice for producing and controlling sustained sound on percussion instruments . Playing a roll creates an aural illusion ; we are stringing together a number of separate attacks to produce the semblance of a single attack followed by controlled sustain .
How are your rolling skills ? Are you taking advantage of the musical power of rolls to enhance your playing ?
The single stroke roll is probably the most widely used roll type for the struck percussion instruments with the double stroke roll coming in second . Since a multiple bounce ( buzz ) roll is limited to stick percussion , it ranks third in use .
A rapid back-and-forth or rotating motion is the usual rolling method for maracas , shaker , rattle , caxixi , and other members of the shaking group of percussion .
When a roll is needed for instruments such as guiro , frottoir , and reco-reco , quick alternating scrapes can be used .
The methods described above are certainly not an exhaustive listing . Among the more unusual rolling techniques are the thumb roll for frame drums and the plate roll for cymbals . Check out these videos for demonstrations of the thumb and plate rolls .
Rolls are not simply a means to sustain sound . The ability to play a variety of rolls along with controlling parameters such as roll speed and dynamics are important tools for adding interest and expression to your playing . For example :
• In certain musical situations , roll speed can be varied to create or release tension .
• A crescendo roll on suspended cymbal will supply the special juice that helps an ensemble build to a climax while a decrescendo roll will aid in reducing the energy level in a song .
• Roll types can be used as a coloristic element . A single stroke roll creates a different tonal effect than a buzz roll . Similarly , a four-mallet ripple roll applied to a chord on the marimba will have a different sound than the same chord rolled with alternating double vertical strokes .
Roll Practice Suggestions
• Learning to make a smooth take-off and braking to a graceful stop are important skills for riding a bike . Same with a roll . Practice the initial attack of rolls along with developing the ability to control precise releases .
• Practice struck rolls on a low-sustaining surface to check for even volume between the hands . Avoid the one-sided roll !
• Monitor your roll speed for tone quality and musical effect . Let your ear guide your hands for the correct rate of motion .
• Practice rolls that begin very softly and crescendo , as well as rolls that start at a loud dynamic level followed by a decrescendo .
• Develop roll technique on a variety of percussion instruments .
• Listen to different styles of music to learn where to effectively apply rolls .
• Develop your ability to sustain smooth rolls for an extended period of time .
That last bit of roll advice is based on personal experience :
Although there were three snare drummers in the marching band , our director gave the duty of playing the long roll in the Star-Spangled Banner to the drum captain . It was my sophomore year in college and that national anthem assignment was my responsibility . Our rendition of the anthem began with a solo double stroke roll which continued as the band played the first sixteen bars . That ' s about 30 seconds of trying to play an even-sounding double stroke roll . It ' s a LOOOOONG 30 seconds . I remember being nervous at the season ' s first home football game , but I had enough staying power in my tank to get through the opening half-minute without folding , rest during the bridge section , and crank out another long roll to take the final section home .
Yeah , make sure to practice roll endurance !
© 2021 Mark Shelton Productions / Percussion For Worship
Mark Shelton A freelance musician and educational consultant based in Dallas / Fort Worth . Performance credits include North Carolina Symphony , Gateway Worship , Daystar Singers & Band , TALEA , Wichita Falls Orchestra , Tin Roof Tango , and Dallas Wind Symphony . www . marksheltonmusic . com percussionforworship . blogspot . com
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