Percussion Pedagogy

In Percussion Pedagogy, author Michael Udow offers a practical guide for students interested in teaching percussion as well as improving their technique. Udow first introduces the bouncing ball system, a technical analogy that teaches students to resist the effects of inertia. Throughout the book, the bouncing ball analogy develops into a core performance principle based on integrated motions resulting in refined tone quality and meaningful musicianship. The book applies this principle to several instruments including snare drum, timpani, marimba, vibraphone, multiple-percussion, tambourine and triangle, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tams, and a variety of Western concert and world percussion repertoire. In particular, Udow addresses the importance of coupling stroke types with stickings to set the foundation for precise rhythmic playing and expressive musicality. Chapters also focus on integrated rhythms, breath, and pulsed rhythms, anatomy and physiological health, psychological health, purposeful listening, and the importance of singing when practicing. Offering solutions to common performance problems, the book's many examples serve as a paradigm for future problem solving. A comprehensive companion website complements Udow's teachings with a wealth of video tutorials and listening examples.

Michael Udow has served as Principal Percussionist (1968-2009) in The Santa Fe Opera and as Professor of Music at the University of Michigan (1982-2011). He was the 2014-15 Composer-in-Residence with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra.

Dedication
Foreword
Gary Cook

Introduction

Chapter 1 Flowing Strokes, Follow the Bouncing Ball

Chapter 2 The Grip, To Grip or to Gripe, that is the Question

Chapter 3 Stickings and Stroke-Types, Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

Chapter 4 The Art of Phrasing, "Sing, Sing, Sing!"

Chapter 5 Purposeful Listening, Listen, Listen, Listen!

Chapter 6 Integrated Rhythms, The Prequel

Chapter 7 Embellishments, Back to Basics

Chapter 8 Teaching Duple Subdivisions, What's Up?

Chapter 9 Rhythm, Who Could Ask for Anything More?

Chapter 10 Integrated Rhythms , I'm All a Quiver!

Chapter 11 Breath Rhythms, A Breath of Fresh Air

Chapter 12 Timpani, The I's, Y's and Beyond

Chapter 13 Mallet-Keyboard, Move over Elephant, there's an Octapus in the Room

Chapter 14 Triangle and Tambourine, Turkish Cooking in the Kitchen

Chapter 15 Bass Drum, Cymbals, Tam tams, and Gongs, Asian and Turkish Delights

Chapter 16 Multiple Percussion, An Integrated System of Form and Function

Chapter 17 Drumset, Oh Say, Can you See...Hear...Play!
with Robert Breithaupt

Chapter 18 Marching Percussion, Not Just on Saturdays
with Dennis DeLucia

Chapter 19 Language, Speech, and Notation, The Gryphan and The Mock Turtle

Chapter 20 Anatomy and Physiological Health, Constant Comment

Chapter 21 Psychological Health, Ohm, by Georg e < without resistance

Concluding Remarks
Historical Timeline
Bibliography
Index