Monday, March 1, 2021

Are you looking for at least one way to incorporate percussion into your daily warm-up routine with your winds? Below, I outline a suggestion of something you can do as it pertains to anyone who regularly uses the Remington Exercises.

• Sibelius (or Finale) is your best friend!
  • The examples provided were created with Sibelius, and such an option is a great way to create content for students. There may be free online resources to use as well.
• Use Mallet Instruments!
  • Most mallet instruments can be used while playing with the winds. Be sure to use softer mallets when using Xylophones or bells so they do not dominate the sound. Marimbas or Vibraphone with the pedals remaining up are most ideal.
  • Have mallets play the same pitches at the same time as the winds. Vary the rhythms they use so they can add the challenge of reading and playing rhythms.
    • The younger groups should stay with simpler rhythms, such as quarters, eighths and some 16ths. The mallet examples provided are what we use for our younger group(s).
• Practice Pads are great!
  • Think about what you feel are the weakest areas of snare playing for your percussion and use that for what they play everyday.
  • In the past, I used the rudiments chosen for All-State and District Auditions. I created slower versions of them, using rhythm.
  • Students can play a rudiment at whatever rhythm they can play successfully. Example: Use a Paradiddle playing Quarter notes, then to 8th notes. However, any student who cannot successfully execute the 8th note version can continue to play the quarter note version. As long as all are in time, it won't disrupt the rest of the band.
    • Sidenote for use of Pads: feel free to have students play the snare part on any given piece. Play it on practice pads at times you have students do fingers only. Airplay to help include them in the process or anytime you want to isolate hearing winds but want to keep your snare drummer active! Just have them use one that can safely be put on top of a drum and removed as needed.
• Use Timpani too!
  • Keep it simple and train them to use their ear to help them play.
  • Unless you have more advanced timpani experienced players, keep them to the same rhythms the winds use, or less.
  • In the example provided, students move the pedal on one drum at a time (assuming correct tuning exists).

I would be happy to visit with you about any questions or suggestions if you would like to reach out via email: [email protected].

Be well!

Click to download examples.

Mike Hulsey PMC Springfield Father of 2, married for 9 years and has worked for Palen Music Center for 14 years. You could say he's a "Jack of all trades". Mike Started with teaching lessons then anything from Rental displays to working in the shipping department. Mike has found his calling as a Band and Orchestra Repair Tech that works with Brass, Strings, and Percussion. On the side Mike works as a "Front of House Engineer" and has for 20 years with reputable local/national acts.