Description: ​The percussion class goes over all 12 major scales every year, and since my

arrival it seems like an area they really struggle with. Whether that’s lack of foundation,

understanding, personal practice, preparation, or whatever internal or external reasons, I

wanted to give them options to help them improve their mallet skills.

First, I recognized that not everyone has access to a mallet instrument or a piano outside

of school, so naturally that limits the opportunity to practice outside of class. So my plan was to

ensure that every student downloaded a piano app onto their phones. I went up to every student

individually and asked if they first, had a piano or keyboard at home, second, had their phone on

them, third, if they would go to the App Store and download a piano app. I watched every single

student that claimed they didn’t have a piano at home go through this process. If they did have a

piano, my following questions were: where is it? And do you practice your mallet music on it?

And how often? From the answers I got, I could tell they were honest. In later rehearsals,

however, I had students come up to tell me things like “I downloaded the app even though I

have a piano at home!” And “I practiced my music on my keyboard this past week!”

But before going to mallets, they did their routine rudiment warm up. This rudiment was a

little tricky for some of them so I found instructional videos on Vicfirth to break it down for them. I

had them play along where it was possible. Next we went to mallets which is when I pulled up a

virtual piano on my computer to display on the board. I would play the note and have them roll

along as I cued every pitch. If I heard a wrong note I would have them refer to the board. I could

have done more ear training, but a good amount of students in the class have hearing

impairments, and with everyone playing at the same time it’s hard to hear whether you’re

playing the correct notes or if that’s coming from a different mallet instrument.
Objective

Percussionists will familiarize themselves on scales by viewing a virtual piano and playing their

scales with it, and use resources on Vicfirth to practice battery instruments.

Procedure

● Percussionists will start with watching a Vicfirth break down video on flam paradiddles

● Percussionists will play along with Vicfirth’s rudiment exercise

● Students will go to mallet instruments, virtual piano will be displayed on the board

● We will go over our Ab and A major scales note by note referring to the virtual piano

● Students will switch and will practice/teach each other the scales

● We will rehearse Jumpstart, all those not playing will continue practicing their scales on a

piano app downloaded on their phones

Assessment

I will go to every student and have them play their Ab and A major scales for me