Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

It’s just hitting stuff, everybody loves to do that! • Easy to make a sound, hard to make music • Learn a variety of instruments • Nothing better than chamber music

General Technique • use natural motion of the wrist (hands turned over) and stay relaxed • similar to bouncing a basketball or knocking on a door • allow the weight of the stick/mallet to do the work! • this technique is the basic approach to all instruments

Rhythms / Counting System • words matching syllables to rhythms (ie. Pear, Ap-ple, Ba-na-na, Wa-ter-mel-on) • use with the whole class, do as a round (different groups starting at different times) • Sixteenths & Triplets Handout (pg. 7) • Timing Exercise (pg. 8)

Assigning Parts • Make your best effort to have every student learn both keyboard and battery percussion • When applicable, double up parts with stronger and less experienced players • Give students that ‘carrot’

Musicality/Phrasing & Ensemble Playing • Dynamic contrast is often easier to achieve on percussion than on wind instruments. Emphasis on this can greatly enhance the musical performance. • Motion in a line or phrase, making a line move forward, how would you sing it? • The feel or pulse of the rhythm can be helped by stressing the beat • Balance and blend within the ensemble, which part is important, where are your eyes and ears? • Soft sections must be played with conviction, otherwise, they could be interpreted as a mistake and lose a sense of pulse • During louder sections, keep a good sound coming out of the instrument. Allow the sound to come out of the /keyboard rather than using a stroke that dampens or deadens the sound (downstrokes)

Stage Presence (Chamber and Large Ensemble) • Avoid moving long distances to get to instruments. This can create unwanted noise and distraction. • Have chairs on stage for players not performing in a piece. Their attention should be on the conductor, not looking around the stage or audience. • Explain body language and stage etiquette. Leaning on one leg can be interpreted as inattentiveness. Keep your eyes on the conductor or leader. Hands should not be in pockets.

OMEA Amplify 2020 1 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

Recommended Recordings

Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble - “The Percussion Music of David Maslanka” featuring… • Maslanka - “Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion” - (for percussion orchestra) • Maslanka - “Crown of Thorns” - (for 4 , two and ) • Maslanka - “Arcadia II” (Concerto for and percussion ensemble)

Robert Hohner Percussion ensemble - “Far More ” featuring... • Rouse - “Ogoun Badagris” • Rouse - “Ku-Ka-Ilimoku”

TorQ Percussion Quartet - “two + two” featuring… • Cage - “Third ”

TorQ Percussion Quartet - “TorQ Percussion Quartet” featuring… • Whitacre - “Sleep”

Other Notable Works for Percussion • Bartòk - “Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion” (great use of ) • Cage - “First Construction (In Metal)” • Gillingham - “Normandy Beach – 1944” (percussion ensemble) • Gillingham - “Stained Glass” (has submerged and etc..) • Lang - “The Anvil Chorus” - (for solo percussion - played on junk metal) • Miki - “Marimba Spiritual” - (for marimba solo and three percussionists) • Rouse - “Bonham” (percussion ensemble, tribute to Led Zeppelin drummer) • Varèse - “” (percussion ensemble)

Legend for Repertoire Chart

SD - VS -

BD - TB - Temple Blocks

CC - Crash DS - Drum Set

SC - Suspended HH - Hi-Hats

WB - Woodblock Timp - Timpani

Tamb - Xylo -

Tri - Triangle Vibe -

Cast - Mar - Marimba

OMEA Amplify 2020 2 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

Percussion Ensemble Repertoire

Grade Title Composer/ Number Instrumentation Arranger of Players

1 Echo Canyon M. Gaetano 8-12+ Various Drums, BD, SC & Sleigh Bells, Xylo, Bells, Chimes, Tam-tam & Brake Drum 1 Funky Fugue for Five A. Keown 5 SD x 2, 4 Toms, Timp

1 Lullaby for PJ N. Daughtrey 6-9 Bells, Vibe, Mar, Timp, Shaker, Tri, SC, BD 1 Rock On! K. Mills 3 Buckets or Toms

1 Seaside Stroll K. Taylor 7-8 Bells, Xylo, Mar (optional), Timp, SD, BD, WB, Sandblocks (or sub shaker) 2 Cha Cha for Seven M. Houlliff 7 SD, BD, 2 Toms, Timp, Claves, , 2 The Confidants A. Fabrizio 8 SD, Bongos, 3 Toms, BD, Timp, SC, Claves & Tamb, Cowbell 2 Fanfare for the J.H. Beck 6 SD, Tenor Drum, 4 Toms, BD, Common Percussionist CC, 4 Timp 2 Katie’s Bossa C. Crockarell 6-8 Bells, Xylo, Mar, SC, Tri, Bongos, Claves, Tom, VS, Shaker, Guiro 2 Spinning Song arr. C. Brooks 7-8 SD & Tri, BD, CC, Bells, Xylo, Timp, TB, Ratchet, SC & Siren 3 Big Yellow Mambo D. Steinquest 11-12 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Vibe, Claves, Maracas, Guiro, , , Cowbell, Bongos, Electric Bass (optional) 3 Bossa Novacaine T.L. Davis 6 Bells, Xylo, Claves, Bongos, Timp, SC 3 California Girls arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells, Xylo, Vibe, Mar, DS, Congas & Tamb 3 Carnaval de Caribe M. Howden 5 4.3 Oct. Mar (2 players), SD, BD, CC 3 Celtic March M. Howden 5 Bells & Chimes, Vibe & Small Tom, SD, SC, BD

OMEA Amplify 2020 3 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

Grade Title Composer/ Number Instrumentation Arranger of Players

3 Dynamo J. Spears 5 Xylo & WB, Mar & Tri, Vibe & 4 Toms, SC & Timp, SD 3 Fanfare for Percussion A. Heim 5 SD, Tom, CC & SC, BD & Tamb, Timp 3 First Voyage of Auki M. LaRosa 5 Vibe (or other keyboard), Badorkins Maracas, Congas, Agogo, Bongos, SD, Tom 3 George of the Jungle arr. W. Rapp 6 Xylo, Bells, Mar, Vibe, DS, Timp - easy to add percussion 3 Jingle Bells P. Williams 7 Bells, Xylo (2 players), Timp, Sleigh Bells, DS, Piano 3 Journey J. Spears 7 Bells & Claves, Xylo, Mar, 3 Toms, SD, (VS, Guiro, Tri, Whip, WB, SC), BD & SC 3 A Little Spice R. Meeboer 5 2 Toms, BD, Agogo, Claves, 3 Mosaics J. Spears 6 SD, 4 Toms, Tamb & WB, SC & Tamb, BD & Tri, Timp 3 Peach Fuzz P. O’Gorman 3 SD, Tenor Drum, Small BD

3 Royal Processionals arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells & Small Tom, Xylo & Large Tom, SD, BD, CC, Timp 3 Scamper J. Spears 5 4 Toms, SD, BD & Tri, SC & WB, Timp 3 Spiritus J. Spears 5 4 Toms, SD, BD & Tamb, SC & Tri, Timp 3 Storm Warning & S. Riley 8 Mar, Bells, Xylo, Vibe, Mark Dance Tree, SD, Timp, Roto-toms, Water , Shaker, Tamb, Tri, , Cowbell, Whip 3 Take a Stand I. Smith 4 or more Music Stands & Chairs

3 Technology J. Casella 8 Bells, Xylo, Tri & SC, HH &TB, SD, 4 Toms, Shaker & BD, Timp 3 Tie Me Kangaroo arr. W. Rapp 6 Xylo, Bells, Vibe, Mar, Timp, Down Sport Auxiliary Perc 3 Trashin’ the Camp arr. W. Rapp 6 Xylo, Bells, Vibe, Mar, Timp, Auxiliary Perc

OMEA Amplify 2020 4 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

Grade Title Composer/ Number Instrumentation Arranger of Players

3 Winding River T. O’Connor 6 Mar, Vibe, SD & TB, 4 Toms, SC & Gong, Timp 3 Xylatin P. Jebe 7-8 Bells, Xylo, SD, Guiro, Claves, Timp, Cowbell, BD, Tom, Samba Whistle, SC x 2, WB, HH 3-4 Celebrating Christmas, T. Brown 6 Bells, Vibe, Mar, Chimes, SC, Part 1 & 2 Bass 3-4 Helping Hands M. Houlliff 7 DS, Bells, Xylo, Timp, Conga or Bongo, Cowebell, Tamb 4 Bayport Sketch J. Spears 8-9 Xylo, Bells, Mar, Chimes, Vibe (or Piano), Timp, 2 Toms & SC, SD 4 Can Can arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Timp, DS, Tri & Tamb 4 Ceremonium J. Spears 8 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Chimes, Timp, Tri & SD, SC & TB, 3 Toms & Tamb 4 Eye Irascible S. Riley 8 Anything and everything!

4 Heavy Metal S. Maricle 7 Non-traditional instruments & metals 4 Overture Fantastica J. Spears 8 Anything and everything!

4 Ritual of the Tribe C. Brooks 11-12 SD x 3, BD & , 3 Toms & BD, Brake Drum, SC & Gong, Tri, Tamb & , Timp 4 Sabre Dance T. Goodson 12 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Vibe, Piano, Timp, SD, BD, CC, SC, , 2 - WBs, Tamb, Tri 4 Some Junk Funk S. Maricle 8 Non-traditional instruments & metals 4 Teamwork L. Glassock 7 Your , and then some. 4 William Tell Overture arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells & Tamb, Xylo & WB, Timp, SD, BD, CC 5 Excerpts from Carmen arr. M. Houlliff 7 Xylo & Tri, Bells & Tom, SD, BD, CC, Tamb & Cast, Timp Sonic Adventures for Percussion Ensemble by Steve Riley is a collection of 6 pieces for 4-6 players, ranging in difficulty from Easy to Medium.

OMEA Amplify 2020 5 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

Websites

Percussion Sheet Music & Instruments www.c-alanpublications.com *The Ignite Series has lots of great beginner percussion ensemble repertoire. www.rowloff.com www.steveweissmusic.com www.tapspace.com www.woodshed-percussion.com * Toronto based company that can help fill all of your needs

Chamber Percussion Groups www.duopercussion.ca * Canadian percussion ensemble, based in southwestern Ontario. www.nexuspercussion.com * Canadian based percussion ensemble, known worldwide. www.torqpercussion.ca * Canadian percussion ensemble, based in Toronto.

OMEA Amplify 2020 6 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

OMEA Amplify 2020 7 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started! Dave Robilliard - [email protected]

OMEA Amplify 2020 8