I. Individual Percussionist Aspects
A. Stick Selection
1. Marching, Concert, Jazz Set, Rock Set
2. Length , Weight, Head, Balance, Straightness
3. Test the sticks.
B. Hand and Stick positions
1. Arm, Hand, Finger positions, and use while playing.
2. Set positions (attention, parade rest, hover position)
3. Playing heights (grace, p, mf, f, ff)
4. More in-depth style and technique discussion relate to separate instruments discussions.
C.
1. Staff, Clef, Basic rhythm notation, basic melodic notation, harmony/theory, dynamics, time signatures, syncopation.
D. Importance of Warming up and stretching
II. Concert instruments and technique versus Marching instruments and technique, versus Drum Set instruments and technique.
III. Marching Instruments
A. History and evolution of instruments.
B. Snare Drum
1. Drum Head selection
2. Stick selection and affects on sound
3. Tuning and care
4. Instrument carriage
5. Body and arm position
6. Playing surface, and playing zones
7. Stick spins and effects (backsticking)
C. Tenors
1. Single/Multi-tenors
2. Mallet/Stick selection and affects on sound
3. Drum Head selection
4. Tuning and care
5. Instrument carriage
6. Body and arm position
7. Playing surface, and playing zones
8. Cross-overs
9. Sweeps
10. Stick spins
and effects.
D. Bass Drum
1. Drum Head selection
2. Mallet selection and affects on sound
3. Tuning and care
4. Instrument carriage
5. Body and arm position
6. Playing surface, and playing zones
7. Stick spins and effects
E. Cymbals
1. Stick selection and affects on sound
2. Tuning and care, polishing
3. Methods of holding, straps and handles
4. Instrument carriage
5. Body and arm position
6. Playing surface, and playing techniques
7. Spins and effects
F. Timpani
1. Drum Head selection
2. Mallet selection and affects on sound
3. Tuning and care
4. Body and arm position
5. Playing surface, and playing zones
6. Muffling
7. Pedal technique
G. Keyboards
1. Mallet selection and affects on sound
2. Tuning and care
3. Body and arm position
4. Playing surface, and playing zones
5. Multi-mallet techniques
6. Muffling
7. Pedal technique
H. Accessories
1. Mallet/Stick selection and affects on sound
2. Playing surface, and playing zones
3. Muffling
IV. Warm-up
A. Individual
1. Single Hand and Hand-to-Hand methods, exercises, and applied rudiments.
B. Full marching percussion line
1. Single Hand and Hand-to-Hand methods, exercises, and applied rudiments.
V. Exercises and applied rudiments/scales
A. Snare
B. Tenors
C. Bass Drum
D. Cymbal
E. Timpani
F. Keyboards
1. Types of scales, chords, and theory.
VI. Execution
A. Timing
B. Stick height
C. Balance of sound
D. Proximity of players to each other
VII. Marching and Maneuvering effects
A. Unison and sequential effects