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This series of video lessons will provide
students and instructors alike with a comprehensive
introduction to the fundamental techniques
for the most common percussion instruments. From instrument
setup to maintenance to performance techniques,
Vic Firth's PERCUSSION 101 will cover the essential
skills necessary for today's all-around percussionist.
The curriculum for this series was compiled
by members of Vic Firth's Collegiate
Educator Program which includes
some of the most influential university instructors in
the country. Presented by percussionist David Skidmore
in a relaxed, approachable atmosphere, this series is
sure to become the most widely referenced video guide
for percussion education! |
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01:
Characteristics and Maintenance
Covering the characteristics
for all the keyboard instruments, including
a discussion of proper beating areas
and general maintenance tips for replacing
cord, fixing posts and stopping rattle
sounds. |
06:
XYLOPHONE
Specific instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the xylophone. |
02:
Setup and Playing Position
A discussion of general
set up tips for all keyboard instruments, including
moving around the instrument and feet positioning. |
07:
GLOCKENSPIEL / BELLS
Specific instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the bells. |
03:
The Grip and Basic Stroke
Instructions for gripping
mallets and performing relaxed strokes on
all the keyboard instruments. Including mallet
positioning on the bars. |
08:
VIBRAPHONE
Specific instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the vibraphone.
Including an overview of dampening techniques. |
04:
Sticking Considerations
General suggestions making
sticking choices on all the keyboard instruments.
Including when to use double sticking patterns. |
09:
MARIMBA
Specific instrument characteristics
and mallet selection choices for the marimba.
Including moving throughout the registers with
foot positioning. |
05:
Rolls
A guide for developing
consistent sounding sustained rolls for all
the keyboard instruments, as well as how to
connect rolls from note to note. |
10:
CHIMES
Specific instrument characteristics,
setup and playing techniques for the chimes. |
Additional
Reference:
Gary Burton's Vibraphone Masterclass
Legendary jazz vibist Gary Burton gives a detailed video
lesson series on the Vibes, from it's history to all of the common playing techniques:
4 mallet grip, stroke, sticking recommendations, pedaling and mallet dampening. |
Additional
Reference:
Giff Howarth's 4 Mallet Lesson Series
The most extensive reference available online for learning
the Musser/Stevens 4 mallet grip for marimba. |
Additional
Reference:
Speed Note Reading Tutor
An online video game designed to get students reading notes
quickly in a fun format. Excerpted from Mark Wessels' “A Fresh Approach
to Mallet Percussion” method book. |
Additional
Reference:
Ney Rosauro's Extended Cross Grip Lesson Series
Renowned performer and composer Ney Rosauro gives an detailed
explanation of the extended cross grip, an easy-to-learn method of gripping 4
mallets that immediately applies to all the instruments. |
Additional
Reference:
Teaching the Beginning Mallet Player
Noted author Mark Wessels discusses the inherent problems
with learning to read on the keyboard percussion instruments. Presenting a list
of solutions and strategies for developing the musical percussionist. |
Additional
Reference:
Vic Firth Concert Podcast
The most extensive collection of video performances from
percussion soloists and ensembles. A great resource for exposing students
of all ages and ability levels to the wide range of musical genres in percussion.
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01:
Instrument and Head Selection
A demonstration of
the most common types of snare drums
and suggestions for head selection. |
11:
Flams
A fundamental approach
to playing flams, both single hand and
alternating. Including suggestions for
playing soft flams and achieving a consistency
of sound. |
| 02:
Care and Maintenance |
12:
Sticking Methods
A demonstration of
Lead Hand and Alternating sticking methods,
including the pros and cons of each system. |
03:
Head Replacement and Tuning
Covering top and bottom
head replacement and maintenance, including
detailed instructions on tuning for a good
concert drum sound. |
13:
Ruffs
The basics for playing
ruffs: multiple bounce, double bounce, 4 stroke
and 5 stroke ruffs. Including a discussion
of which type of ruff (and sticking for the
ruff) is appropriate for the music. |
04:
Stick Selection and Characteristic Sound
Including a demonstration
of how various playing areas and muffling can
effect the sound of the drum. |
14:
Alternative Sounds
A demonstration of other
implements that may be used to achieve a variety
of sounds and tonal colors: brushes, dreadlocks
and rute. |
05:
Proper Setup and Playing Position
Setting the drum up to
the proper height and position for the best playing
posture. |
Additional
Reference:
Mark Wessels' Beginning Snare Drum Lesson Series
An extensive video lesson series based on ”A Fresh Approach
to the Snare Drum,” designed as a progressive approach for the beginning student. |
06:
The Grip
Instructions for gripping
the sticks in the matched grip. |
Additional
Reference:
40 Essential Rudiments
A great resource for practicing your rudiments, with
exercises and playalong tracks for each level of student. Including video demonstrations
of each rudiment performed open-close-open style by Dr. John Wooton. |
07:
The Basic Stroke (Rebound / Legato Stroke)
Presenting the fundamental
stroke for independent right and left hand
strokes independently, as well as three important
rudiments: alternating strokes (single stroke
roll), double strokes (long roll) and paradiddles. |
Additional
Reference:
Norm Weinberg's WebRhythms
A series of articles designed to teach rhythm reading from
the most basic to very advanced. Includes play along files for various skill
levels and downloadable PDF files of the exercises. |
08:
Roll Fundamentals
An approach to
develop the multiple bounce and double
bounce roll. Including when multiple and double bounce
rolls are appropriate. |
Additional
Reference:
Mark Wessels’ Rudimental Technique
14 fundamental exercises with video lessons designed for
the beginning to intermediate snare drummer. |
09:
Metered and Unmetered Rolls
Selecting the stroke speed
to produce a smooth sustained roll sound. Also
including a discussion of various roll bases
for different tempos. |
Additional
Reference:
Jeff Queen's “The Next Level” Rudimental Technique
Exercises and video explanations by rudimental master Jeff
Queen that is designed to take the intermediate player to the advanced level. |
10:
Tied and Untied Rolls
Instructions on how to
play rolls that are not tied to a release note |
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01: Instrument Characteristics and General
Maintenance
An overview of the timpani and
tips how to maintain and transport the instrument.
Including an extensive article on replacing timpani
heads. |
09:
Articulation and Stroke Speed
Using stroke speed to create
more articulation without changing mallets. |
02:
Setup
Suggestions for properly positioning
the drums, music stand and mallet tray. |
10:
Mallet Selection
An overview of some of
the sound possibilities possible using a variety
of mallets. |
03:
Grip and Basic Stroke
Presenting the fundamentals of
gripping the sticks (French, German, American), proper
beating area and playing with a relaxed, full stroke. |
Additional
Reference: Interval Recognition Chart
A collection of tunes for all of the
intervals, ascending and decending. |
04:
Sticking Considerations
A discussion of alternating,
leading-hand, cross-over and double sticking techniques. |
Additional
Reference: Replacing/Clearing Timpani Heads
Including complete instructions
on replacing a timpani head, clearing (tuning)
it, and adjusting the pedals. |
05:
Rolls
Suggestions for developing a
relaxed sustaining roll sound on timpani. Including
a discussion of roll speed and moving from drum to
drum. |
Additional
Reference: Tim Genis Timpani Clinic
Presented at the 2007 PAS
International Convention by Tim Genis (timpanist
for the Boston Symphony Orchestra) |
06:
Muffling
The basics for stopping
the sound with the fingers, including muffling
for note length and for clarity. |
Additional
Reference: Stuart Marrs on Elliott Carter
Watch Stuart perform and
examine “March” from Elliott Carter's “Eight
Pieces for Four Timpani” |
07:
Tuning
Learning to sing and hear
pitches as well as transferring the pitch to
the drum. Including finding the best drum for
a given pitch. |
Additional
Reference: Recovering Timpani Mallets
Including an instructional
video on how to recover your Vic Firth American
Custom® Timpani mallets. |
08:
More Tuning Recommendations
Covering other tuning topics:
singing intervals, tuning with a tuning fork,
sympathetic resonance and tuning etiquette. |
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01:
Instrument Characteristics and Striking Techniques
A discussion of the
basic playing techniques for playing slow
and fast rhythmic passages on the tambourine.
Including various striking techniques to
get a wide variety of sounds. |
02:
Rolls
A guide for learning
to play shake rolls and thumb rolls. As
includes how to play crescendo rolls. |
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About David Skidmore:
David Skidmore is active as both a performer and composer of music
for percussion. David is a member of the Ensemble ACJW, Third Coast
Percussion, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, the Lucerne Festival
Percussion Group, and Collide. He is a dedicated advocate for the
music of our time, having commissioned, premiered, and performed
dozens of new works by many of the great composers of the 20th and
21st century.
David has been featured as a soloist with the Royal Academy of Music
Orchestra in London, the Pacific Soundings series in Sapporo, Japan,
the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and the Chicago Civic Orchestra
LaSalle Bank Chamber Music Series. As a chamber musician, David has
performed for the Music on the Edge series in Pittsburgh, the Cleveland
Art Museum Concert Series, June in Buffalo, Klangspuren Schwaz, the
Philharmonie Essen, the Ojai Music Festival, the Kennedy Center Millennium
Stage, the Bang On a Can Marathon, the Princeton Composers’ Ensemble,
and at three Percussive Arts Society International Conventions.
David’s compositions are performed regularly in concert halls
and universities across the country. Two of David’s pieces
were performed in November 2007 at the Percussive Arts Society International
Convention. In May of 2007 his latest piece, “Unknown
Kind”, was premiered at Carnegie Hall.
He was awarded 1st prize in the 2005 Percussive Arts Society Composition
Contest and 2nd prize in the 2004 contest. His piece “Whispers – for
9 Percussionists” was a finalist for an ASCAP Morton Gould
Young Composer Award in 2005, and has been recorded by the Northwestern
University Percussion Ensemble.
David received the Bachelor of Music degree from the Northwestern
University School of Music and the Master of Music degree from the
Yale School of Music. His teachers have included Robert Van Sice, Michael
Burritt, James Ross, Paul Wertico, and Michael Hernandez.
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