Play Drum Kit, Timpani & Percussion (Book 1)

Ben Garraway & Lee Stanley

General Info

Book 1

Year:2005(1st edition); 2017(2nd edition)
Publisher:Lindsay Music
Level: Grade 1-2
ISBN:978-0-8595-7051-0
Cost:£14.95

Book 2

Year 2019
Publisher:Lindsay Music
Level: Grade 3-4
ISBN:978-0-8595-7180-7
Cost:£12.95

Overview

A complete lesson course for drumkit, snare drum, timpani and tuned percussion which is clear to understand and covers many styles. The CD with backing tracks makes practice easy and fun.

A complete lesson course for drumkit, snare drum, timpani and tuned percussion. The book is best suited to be used with a teacher who can advise on technique. The CD has backing tracks to accompany some of the exercises and for most of the pieces.

Styles covered are rock, jazz and folk. The book contains practice exercises, solo pieces and ensemble pieces

Description

This series of books started life as a collection of lessons for percussion students and slowly took shape, becoming an entire scheme of work for beginners through to advanced level students. Each page is designed to be a simple structured lesson, and explores a new technique or style for modern percussionist.
Each module starts with the snare drum and continues with the drum kit, tuned percussion and timpani section.
Most new rhythms are introduced the snare drum section, so it may be a good idea to start with this before moving on to the other sections. If you finish each module before starting on the next one, you will progress through the book in an easy step-by-step way.

Content

Book 1

Practice time and warmups
Module 1 Snare Drum
Module 1 Drum Kit
Module 1 Tuned Percussion
Module 1 Timpani
Module 2 Snare Drum
Module 2 Drum Kit
Module 2 Tuned Percussion
Module 2 Timpani
Module 1 & 2 Ensemble pieces

Book 2

Module 3 Snare Drum
Module 3 Drum Kit
Module 3 Tuned Percussion
Module 3 Timpani

Additional Resources

Axel F - Percussion Ensemble
Planet Blues - Percussion Ensemble

Review

Play Play Drum Kit, Timpani & Percussion Book 2 by Ben Garraway & Lee Stanley Review

Teacher's Review

Book 2 is an inspirational teaching resource that has helped enthuse and inspire my students. The pieces are all thoughtfully written and keep the drummer interested, and the backing tracks are excellent. The exercises are clear, concise, and help aid progress greatly, there is no needless waffle. I’m looking forward to using some of the Percussion Ensemble pieces next term, they look brilliant! A thoroughly worthwhile purchase overall and one that will be incredibly useful and aid teaching greatly. by Dave Hughes Freelance Drummer and teacher at Pocklington School and Scarborough College

Magazine Review

The longwinded title of these books almost but me off, I'm glad it didn't. Instead, I found them surprisingly charming. Beginning with the first volume, each lesson was seasoned with a pinch of personality. Enough to elicit a smile, but not so much as to feel over-done. The trick is in the doodles. Rather than the usual wordy explanations followed by exercises, our authors have chosen a more personal approach. Ben Garraway and Lee Stanley pop up every so often in the form of comic book caricatures offering helpful timps and tricks to the learner. Why read a pesky paragraph when you can munch on snack-sized sentences as you go along?
I found that these doodle dudes have done a clever job with the daunting task faced by any percussion teacher. How do you teach a new student how to play four instruments at once? Most books cover depth over breadth, tackling one instrument per volume and leaving the beginner feeling overwhelmed. Too many instruments to practice! Too many books to buy! Too many instruments to practice! In this case Ben Garraway and Lee Stanley have organized everything into one spiral-bound, glossy-covered compendium. It's cute and practical. Each module starts with rhythmic fundamentals on snare drum and progresses to drum kit, tuned percussion and timpani. By the end of the first module your primary percussionist should have the skills to play simple parts on each of the core instruments.
We all know post-millennial students gravitate toward lessons that are quick, simple and engaging. This book won't disappoint. Building on familiar concepts like body percussion and rhythmic sayings, Ben Garraway and Lee Stanley ease the learner into new material. Module One has a focus on improvisation and creativity, challenging students to compose a four-bar melody or improvise you own fill. Module Two covers a broad array of style with tunes ranging from Afro-Cuban to Gospel. The best is saved for last, a bonus ensemble section. Here students can put their new skills to use, performing short songs from various regions including Africa and Brazil. It seems Ben Garraway and Lee Stanley have struck a chord with this book. It's a fun, fundamental and inclusive approach to music-making. Just right for a progressive new generation of kid percussionists.
The Duo are right back at it with Book Two. Only this time, they've rolled out a more sophisticated edition. Module Three is all about high schoolers and it gets to the point - how to be the solid player your banmates can trust. Hooray for peer approval! This Drum Kit Module Three is a big thumbs up from me. The Highlights are in its suggested listening: Metallica, Motorhead, Chaka Khan, Gloria Estefan, Deep Purple, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. Etudes draw on influences from artists the students already know (or darn well better!). A particularly good romp was a tune called Jimmi Brown. Yep, it's just as you thought, a Jimi Hendrix and James Brown mixup. Jimmi Brown sports a funky beak at a playable tempo, solid backing track and lots of room to put students creativity to work. Rhythm slashes indicating how to develop the part give the student total creative control for five whole bars. Teenage drummers should heed the warning given to Spiderman though - with great power cornes great responsibility.
True to form, the authors have included an awesome array of styles, grooves and examples from all spheres of music. The cool things is, artist-driven repertoire doesn't stop with the drum kit. The tuned and timpani sections feature classical favorites like Minuet in G, William tell Overture and the Magic Flute. Comtemporary music fans need not fear, if you listen closely there's a tip of the hat to Coldplay's Viva La Cida in the pop chords section.
Hang on, what about high school beginners? The duo has you covered. Each section begins with handy reminders of the concepts from Book One. New recruits can skim the first two modules and use reminders as a starting point for Book Two. But wait, there's more...a timpani and drumset duet!? Bing Bonga Bing Bong could be the only timpani and drum kit duet ever written. I certainly hadn't seen one before, but somehow it seems just the ticket to entice two raucous drum-loving teenagers to smash it (artistically of course). If that's not enough to get their blood pumping, take a look at the final showpiece, a taiko tune called Momentum. Music teachers beware, this book will have your classroom crawling with deafening drummers hard at work! by Lauren Kosty

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