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Vic Firth
Educational Feature:
SHAZAM! by John Pollard
Vic
Firth is excited to offer students and teachers around the world exposure
to some of the best teaching methods and resources. Vic Firth Education
Team member John Pollard has written an exciting new collection of
solos designed to provide solo performance literature for the "all-around" beginning
to intermediate percussionist –– a great resource for any teacher
of young students! 14 of the 16 solos included in the book are included
on the Texas University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List.
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SHAZAM!
Collection
of 16 Easy and Intermediate "Crime Fighting" Solos
for
Snare Drum, Timpani, Keyboard and Multi-Percussion
by John Pollard
Published
by Row-Loff Productions www.rowloff.com Young
percussionists sometimes focus on just one aspect of percussion
(typically what they are "good at") which can result
in student who excel at "just snare drum" or "just
mallets..." However, as our craft evolves, developing students
are expected, more and more, to demonstrate versatility and ability
on many instruments.
Having beginners perform equally on at least 2 different instruments
has helped overcome "mallet-phobia" (or "rudiment-phobia")
in my students. When the expectation from day 1 is that they
are to be well-rounded they accept it as natural development.
It is harder to ask advanced students to go back and round out
their education.
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Shazam! is
a diverse set of solos intended to appeal to young percussionists.
My hope is that instructors and students alike will find it convenient
(and cost-effective) to have several pieces for snare, timpani,
keyboards and multi-percussion all in one book.
Best
wishes in your musical endeavors. - John Pollard
Note:
14 of the 16 solos included in the book are included on the Texas
University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List. |
Check out
John's students performing a few solos from SHAZAM!
Oh
Well! , Multi-Percussion Solo (Texas
U.I.L. Prescribed Solo, Class 2)
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performed by Kevin Cavanagh
7th grade beginner - Bedford Junior
High, TX. Steve Madsen, director
Oh Well! is
another selection intended for intermediate players. As
with several pieces in the book, the motifs imitate drum set patterns to enhance
appeal and develop a sense of groove. RH flow on cymbal is used in the
opening section, followed by quarter note LH flow on cowbell in the next section. Syncopations
are dealt with across several surfaces, and the different tonal characteristics
of drums, cowbell and cymbal provide challenge where balance is concerned.
Watch
the video! | High
Bandwidth | Low Bandwidth |
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Good
Times, Snare
Drum Solo (Texas U.I.L. Prescribed Solo, Class
3)
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performed by Brian Nelson
7th grade beginner
- Hurst Junior High, TX. Joe
Heiberger, director
This is a fun
entry-level solo for snare. It
uses multiple surfaces (snare head, rim and stick shoulder) for
variety and to develop mobility. The first 2 lines use RH flow,
meaning the RH plays straight eighth notes to establish solid tempo
control. The
syncopations are user-friendly so that students encountering
them for the first time will be able to overcome any intimidation
by understanding how they sound. Dynamics range from p to
ff, but are largely terraced for simplicity. As with several
pieces in the book, some motifs imitate a drum set pattern to enhance
appeal and develop a sense of groove in young students.
Watch
the video! | High
Bandwidth | Low Bandwidth |
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Stick
Licks, Snare
Drum Solo (Texas U.I.L. Prescribed
Solo, Class 3)
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performed by Sean Gilmore
7th grade beginner
- Bedford Junior High, TX. Steve Madsen, director
A step-up from "Good
Times," this piece explores 3 surfaces (snare head,
rim and stick shoulder) in a variety of ways. The challenge
lies in control of the implements and going rapidly from one surface
to another to create linear melodies. A variety of flam and
diddle rudiments are incorporated, as well as triplets, single
stroke 7's, and 5, 9 & 17 stroke rolls. The last 3 lines
build (both in dynamics and challenge) to a fun conclusion.
Watch
the video! | High
Bandwidth | Low Bandwidth |
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Holiday, Keyboard Solo (Texas
U.I.L. Prescribed Solo, Class 3)
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performed by Caitlin Clark
7th grade beginner - Bedford Junior
High, TX. Steve Madsen, director
Holiday is
an upbeat entry-level mallet piece in F Major. It is intended
to be catchy, while demanding application of all the fundamental
components which beginning mallet players should focus on: scalar
runs, third studies and arpeggios. Rhythmic demand includes
a syncopated double-stop section and a hemiola in the 5th line
to keep students counting.
Watch
the video! | High
Bandwidth | Low Bandwidth |
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Skipping, Keyboard Solo (Texas
U.I.L. Prescribed Solo, Class 3)
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performed by Brian Nelson
7th grade beginner - Hurst
Junior High, TX. Joe Heiberger, director
Based in C Major,
this selection incorporates many accidentals and travels through
E Major and a minor before returning to C. It is a double-stop builder,
using RH eighth notes to establish tempo control through the first 2 lines while
the LH plays quarters. Dynamics are gradual and very important to the piece. The
use of jazz harmonies in the opening motif lends is intended to be appealing
and to introduce young players to new harmonic ideas.
Watch
the video! | High
Bandwidth | Low Bandwidth |
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Leapin'
Leprechauns, Keyboard Solo (Texas
U.I.L. Prescribed Solo, Class 2)
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performed by Eric Dowdey
7th grade beginner - Bedford Junior
High, TX. Steve Madsen, director
This piece is
intended for the more intermediate player due to length and physical
demand. It explores major and chromatic scalar patterns in groups of
three. It is a useful piece for developing runs such as a student might
see in transcriptions of violin and flute works commonly used for auditions. Once
the student begins there is no stopping, so it is a good tool for developing
focus.
Watch
the video! | High
Bandwidth | Low Bandwidth |
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EXCERPTED FROM THE UPCOMING ROW-LOFF “SHAZAM” DVD:
Vic Firth Education Packs - great solutions for the beginning percussionist!
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Designed to
include the correct tools for producing quality sound at the student
level, Education Packs were developed with a "step up" approach.
As the student advances from beginner to intermediate, he or she
will acquire the essentials for band and orchestra literature.
EP1 :
A Vic Firth stick bag equipped with an SD1, M5 and M14. EP2
: A
Vic Firth stick bag equipped with an SD2, M3, M6 and T3. |
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About John PollardCurrently a band director
at L.D. Bell High School in Dallas, John Pollard also instructs percussion
for Bedford and Hurst Junior Highs. He is music coordinator for Yamaha's
Sounds Of Summer program, has served on faculty with Bands Of America's
Summer Symposium, directed percussion for the National Concert Band Festival's
"Honor Band of America" and is
an assistant director with Metro Alliance of DFW. He has served with the Texas
University Interscholastic League, selected TMEA's All-State Percussion
Music, served on the planning committee for PASIC 2000 in Dallas and assisted
with MTV's production of Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime featuring Janet
Jackson.
Mr. Pollard is a two-time
recipient of the HEB Education Foundation's "Award
of Excellence." He is published by Row-Loff
Productions and has
written for Percussive Notes, Drum Corps World and corporate periodicals.
He consults with and composes for marching bands and drum corps in North
America and Japan.
Mr. Pollard's students
have finished first at Percussive Arts Society national competitions and
in Texas All-State Bands and Orchestras. The L.D. Bell Drumline has been
a PASIC National High School Champion and the marching band has placed first
and second at the Texas 5A State Marching Contest. The band has been a repeat
champion of Bands Of America regionals and has received Awards for Best Music
and Best Visual Performance at BOA's Grand National
Championships, twice finishing in the top 5. L.D. Bell concert bands
have earned the Texas UIL Sweepstakes award and "Best In Class" honors
in several states. The L.D. Bell Symphonic Band has performed at the Midwest
Clinic and has advanced to the TMEA State Honor Band Contest.
You may contact John with
questions or comments via email:
pollardj@hebisd.edu
About the L.D. Bell band program
Band
begins in 7th grade in the HEB Independent School District, where Junior
Highs are grades 7-9. Beginner
classes are broken down by instrument type and meet each day for 50 minutes. By
the end of the 7th grade year, band students are expected to know 12 major
scales (full range), chromatic scale (full range), all eighth and sixteenth
note rhythms, 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 2/2 and 6/8 time signatures as well as demonstrate
appropriate reading abilities. Percussionists
must also know common rudiments and be able to perform simple accent, flam,
multiple bounce, diddle and double-stroke ornamentation. High school
directors assist junior high directors with beginner classes daily. Band
members in grades 8-9 are scheduled. Bedford JH band directors are Steve Madsen
and Elizabeth Anderson. Hurst JH band directors are Joe Heiberger and Justin
Thomas.
L.D.
Bell is a Texas UIL 5A high school, grades 10-12 only, in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford
school district. The Marching Band rehearses and performs from August through
mid-November. Concert Bands and Jazz Band perform from November through May.
The band, drumline, guard, and jazz band appear at school and community functions
throughout the year. The band is also part of L.D. Bell's International Baccalaureate
Music program. LD Bell band directors are Jeremy Earnhart, John Pollard and
Chris Ferrell. HEB ISD private percussion instructors are Chris Scott, Warren
Dewey and Lauren Vogel.
Detailed information on
the LD Bell Band program, as well as links to Bedford and Hurst Junior High
Band sites may be found at www.ldbellband.org
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