Teaching Percussion

Gary Cook

General Info

Year: 2005
Edition: 3rd edition
Publisher: Schirmer Books
Cost: Book Cost - $168.95   |   Supplemental Books - $0.00

Cook, Gary. Teaching Percussion 3rd edition. New York, Schirmer Books, 2005.

Overview

Since its first edition in 1988, Teaching Percussion has been the standard percussion instrument/methods text. Providing a comprehensive introduction to every aspect of percussion education, technique, and performance, this text helps students develop musical understanding and performance skills. Now in its third edition, updated and revised with over seven hours of instructional videos, Teaching Percussion presents a balanced percussion technique applicable to all instruments. The text, illustrations, and many examples and exercises acquaint students with the special needs of all percussion instruments. With this effective, self-contained book, students in music education programs, private study, or percussion pedagogy courses will develop a broad musical awareness and comprehensive technical proficiency.

Chapters

Chapter I:
Chapter II:
Chapter III:
Chapter IV: Keyboard Percussion

This section covers the origins of several different classifications of keyboard instruments, including the range and mallet choices. Techniques such as grips, playing areas, and phrasing on keyboard instruments are explained in detail.

Chapter V: Timpani

In Chapter V the historical origins are covered, such as early compositions and the evolution of the timpani tuning system. Explains the importance of developing the timpanist, using skills like pitch recognition and audation. Cook then describes the physical features of the timpani such as heads, bowl sizes, ad tuning systems. Timpani technique is explained as well as how to tune the timpani for playing and grips, playing area, muting, and cross-sticking.

Chapter VI: Bass Drum, Cymbals, and Accessory Percussion

In Chapter VI, a brief general history of each instrument in the chapter is given, along with the instruments name in English, Italian, German, and French. Every instrument covered that includes a mallet or stick will have a picture of the aforementioned in the section covering the instrument as well as pictures of the instrument being discussed. Something useful in the section over the bass drum, is it gives a detailed illustration of how to build a homemade humidifier for the upkeep of calfskin heads. The cymbal, triangle, and tambourine section share similar qualities as each shows how to pick an appropriate sounding instrument, as well as proper ways to execute strokes. (The triangle section shares brief instruction on how to build homemade triangle clips) The remainder of the chapter discusses several other accessory instruments that one may come across in the percussive world. (i.e. slapstick, ratchet, finger cymbals, etc.)

Chapter VII: Latin America and World Percussion

The chapter begins with the more commonly used hand drums: The bongos and congas. It discusses the instruments origin, history, the materials the instruments are made from, as well as what is used for the head of the instruments. The chapter also gives a verbal analysis of how to properly play both instruments. Timbales are then covered in the same way the previous instruments were, as well as involving set-up, and what types of sticks are used on the instrument. In the chapter, with each instrument described, there are small notation examples for each instrument, most of which cover fundamental foreign rhythms. (This includes a section over 3:2 and 2:3 claves, as well as covering the instrument, claves, itself) The remainder of the chapter proceeds to introduce other instruments, such as guiro, maracas, afuche/cabasa etc.

Important to note is that the author at the end of the chapter goes into explicit detail regarding steel drum bands, covering everything from construction, to band set-up, to finding music for the instrument.

Chapter VIII: Drum Set

The introduction to this chapter includes a very detailed and in-depth history of American jazz drumming. Starting with an explanation of the the original drum-sets, evolving into dixieland and second-line New Orleans style drumming. The history progresses into discussing swing and big band music. The history section wraps up with contemporary eclectic and rock styles. The next section covers modern instrumentation of the drum set, the example it uses is a five-piece set up: three toms, a snare, and a bass drum. Different cymbals, and the appropriate tuning of a drum set are then discussed. There is quite a large section following this involving electronic percussion systems as well as extensive information on MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) software and hardware. The chapter concludes with an analysis of psychomotor disciplines and how to develop your hand and feet techniques, this is accompanied by several groove studies and short playing 'chart' at the end of the chapter.

Works for Percussion by this Author

Cook, Gary. Teaching Percussion 3rd edition. New York, Schirmer Books, 2005.