Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!

Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

It’s just hitting stuff, everybody loves to do that!

• Easy to make a sound, hard to make music
• Learn a variety of instruments
• Nothing better than chamber music

General Technique
• use natural motion of the wrist (hands turned over) and stay relaxed
• similar to bouncing a basketball or knocking on a door
• allow the weight of the stick/mallet to do the work!
• this technique is the basic approach to all instruments

Rhythms / Counting System

• words matching syllables to rhythms (ie. Pear, Ap-ple, Ba-na-na, Wa-ter-mel-on)
• use with the whole class, do as a round (different groups starting at different times)
• Sixteenths & Triplets Handout (pg. 7)
• Timing Exercise (pg. 8)

Assigning Parts
• Make your best effort to have every student learn both keyboard and battery percussion
• When applicable, double up parts with stronger and less experienced players
• Give students that ‘carrot’

Musicality/Phrasing & Ensemble Playing

• Dynamic contrast is often easier to achieve on percussion than on wind instruments.
Emphasis on this can greatly enhance the musical performance.
• Motion in a line or phrase, making a line move forward, how would you sing it?
• The feel or pulse of the rhythm can be helped by stressing the beat
• Balance and blend within the ensemble, which part is important, where are your eyes
and ears?
• Soft sections must be played with conviction, otherwise, they could be interpreted as a
mistake and lose a sense of pulse
• During louder sections, keep a good sound coming out of the instrument. Allow the
sound to come out of the drum/keyboard rather than using a stroke that dampens or
deadens the sound (downstrokes)

Stage Presence (Chamber and Large Ensemble)

• Avoid moving long distances to get to instruments. This can create unwanted noise and
distraction.
• Have chairs on stage for players not performing in a piece. Their attention should be on
the conductor, not looking around the stage or audience.
• Explain body language and stage etiquette. Leaning on one leg can be interpreted as
inattentiveness. Keep your eyes on the conductor or leader. Hands should not be in
pockets.

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 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!
Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

Recommended Recordings

Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble - “The Percussion Music of David Maslanka” featuring…
• Maslanka - “Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion” - (for percussion orchestra)
• Maslanka - “Crown of Thorns” - (for 4 marimbas, two vibraphones and bells)
• Maslanka - “Arcadia II” (Concerto for marimba and percussion ensemble)

Robert Hohner Percussion ensemble - “Far More Drums” featuring...

• Rouse - “Ogoun Badagris”
• Rouse - “Ku-Ka-Ilimoku”

TorQ Percussion Quartet - “two + two” featuring…

• Cage - “Third Construction”

TorQ Percussion Quartet - “TorQ Percussion Quartet” featuring…

• Whitacre - “Sleep”

Other Notable Works for Percussion

• Bartòk - “Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion” (great use of timpani)
• Cage - “First Construction (In Metal)”
• Gillingham - “Normandy Beach – 1944” (percussion ensemble)
• Gillingham - “Stained Glass” (has submerged crotales and gongs etc..)
• Lang - “The Anvil Chorus” - (for solo percussion - played on junk metal)
• Miki - “Marimba Spiritual” - (for marimba solo and three percussionists)
• Rouse - “Bonham” (percussion ensemble, tribute to Led Zeppelin drummer)
• Varèse - “Ionisation” (percussion ensemble)

Legend for Repertoire Chart

SD - Snare Drum VS - Vibraslap

BD - Bass Drum TB - Temple Blocks

CC - Crash Cymbals DS - Drum Set

SC - Suspended Cymbal HH - Hi-Hats

WB - Woodblock Timp - Timpani

Tamb - Tambourine Xylo - Xylophone

Tri - Triangle Vibe - Vibraphone

Cast - Castanets Mar - Marimba

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 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!
Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

Percussion Ensemble Repertoire

Grade Title Composer/ Number Instrumentation

Arranger of Players

1 Echo Canyon M. Gaetano 8-12+ Various Drums, BD, SC &

Sleigh Bells, Xylo, Bells,
Chimes, Tam-tam & Brake
Drum
1 Funky Fugue for Five A. Keown 5 SD x 2, 4 Toms, Timp

1 Lullaby for PJ N. Daughtrey 6-9 Bells, Vibe, Mar, Timp, Shaker,

Tri, SC, BD
1 Rock On! K. Mills 3 Buckets or Toms

1 Seaside Stroll K. Taylor 7-8 Bells, Xylo, Mar (optional),

Timp, SD, BD, WB,
Sandblocks (or sub shaker)
2 Cha Cha for Seven M. Houlliff 7 SD, BD, 2 Toms, Timp, Claves,
Cowbell, Maracas
2 The Confidants A. Fabrizio 8 SD, Bongos, 3 Toms, BD,
Timp, SC, Claves & Tamb,
Cowbell
2 Fanfare for the J.H. Beck 6 SD, Tenor Drum, 4 Toms, BD,
Common Percussionist CC, 4 Timp
2 Katie’s Bossa C. Crockarell 6-8 Bells, Xylo, Mar, SC, Tri,
Bongos, Claves, Tom, VS,
Shaker, Guiro
2 Spinning Song arr. C. Brooks 7-8 SD & Tri, BD, CC, Bells, Xylo,
Timp, TB, Ratchet, SC & Siren
3 Big Yellow Mambo D. Steinquest 11-12 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Vibe, Claves,
Maracas, Guiro, Congas,
Timbales, Cowbell, Bongos,
Electric Bass (optional)
3 Bossa Novacaine T.L. Davis 6 Bells, Xylo, Claves, Bongos,
Timp, SC
3 California Girls arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells, Xylo, Vibe, Mar, DS,
Congas & Tamb
3 Carnaval de Caribe M. Howden 5 4.3 Oct. Mar (2 players), SD,
BD, CC
3 Celtic March M. Howden 5 Bells & Chimes, Vibe & Small
Tom, SD, SC, BD

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 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!
Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

Grade Title Composer/ Number Instrumentation

Arranger of Players

3 Dynamo
3 Fanfare for Percussion
3 First Voyage of Auki
Badorkins
3 George of the Jungle
3 Jingle Bells
3 Journey
3 A Little Spice
3 Mosaics
3 Peach Fuzz
J. Spears 5 Xylo & WB, Mar & Tri, Vibe & 4
Toms, SC & Timp, SD
A. Heim 5 SD, Tom, CC & SC, BD &
Tamb, Timp
M. LaRosa 5 Vibe (or other keyboard),
Maracas, Congas, Agogo,
Bongos, SD, Tom
arr. W. Rapp 6 Xylo, Bells, Mar, Vibe, DS,
Timp - easy to add percussion
P. Williams 7 Bells, Xylo (2 players), Timp,
Sleigh Bells, DS, Piano
J. Spears 7 Bells & Claves, Xylo, Mar, 3
Toms, SD, (VS, Guiro, Tri,
Whip, WB, SC), BD & SC
R. Meeboer 5 2 Toms, BD, Agogo, Claves,
Cabasa
J. Spears 6 SD, 4 Toms, Tamb & WB, SC
& Tamb, BD & Tri, Timp
P. O’Gorman 3 SD, Tenor Drum, Small BD

3 Royal Processionals arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells & Small Tom, Xylo &
Large Tom, SD, BD, CC, Timp
3 Scamper J. Spears 5 4 Toms, SD, BD & Tri, SC &
WB, Timp
3 Spiritus J. Spears 5 4 Toms, SD, BD & Tamb, SC &
Tri, Timp
3 Storm Warning & S. Riley 8 Mar, Bells, Xylo, Vibe, Mark
Dance Tree, SD, Timp, Roto-toms,
Water gong, Shaker, Tamb, Tri,
Conga, Cowbell, Whip
3 Take a Stand I. Smith 4 or more Music Stands & Chairs

3 Technology J. Casella 8 Bells, Xylo, Tri & SC, HH &TB,

SD, 4 Toms, Shaker & BD,
Timp
3 Tie Me Kangaroo arr. W. Rapp 6 Xylo, Bells, Vibe, Mar, Timp,
Down Sport Auxiliary Perc
3 Trashin’ the Camp arr. W. Rapp 6 Xylo, Bells, Vibe, Mar, Timp,
Auxiliary Perc

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 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!
Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

Grade Title Composer/ Number Instrumentation

Arranger of Players

3 Winding River T. O’Connor 6 Mar, Vibe, SD & TB, 4 Toms,

SC & Gong, Timp
3 Xylatin P. Jebe 7-8 Bells, Xylo, SD, Guiro, Claves,
Timp, Cowbell, BD, Tom,
Samba Whistle, SC x 2, WB,
HH
3-4 Celebrating Christmas, T. Brown 6 Bells, Vibe, Mar, Chimes, SC,
Part 1 & 2 Bass
3-4 Helping Hands M. Houlliff 7 DS, Bells, Xylo, Timp, Conga
or Bongo, Cowebell, Tamb
4 Bayport Sketch J. Spears 8-9 Xylo, Bells, Mar, Chimes, Vibe
(or Piano), Timp, 2 Toms & SC,
SD
4 Can Can arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Timp, DS, Tri
& Tamb
4 Ceremonium J. Spears 8 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Chimes,
Timp, Tri & SD, SC & TB, 3
Toms & Tamb
4 Eye Irascible S. Riley 8 Anything and everything!

4 Heavy Metal S. Maricle 7 Non-traditional instruments &

metals
4 Overture Fantastica J. Spears 8 Anything and everything!

4 Ritual of the Tribe C. Brooks 11-12 SD x 3, BD & China Cymbal, 3

Toms & BD, Brake Drum, SC &
Gong, Tri, Tamb & Mark Tree,
Timp
4 Sabre Dance T. Goodson 12 Bells, Xylo, Mar, Vibe, Piano,
Timp, SD, BD, CC, SC, Splash
Cymbal, 2 - WBs, Tamb, Tri
4 Some Junk Funk S. Maricle 8 Non-traditional instruments &
metals
4 Teamwork L. Glassock 7 Your percussion section, and
then some.
4 William Tell Overture arr. M. Houlliff 6 Bells & Tamb, Xylo & WB,
Timp, SD, BD, CC
5 Excerpts from Carmen arr. M. Houlliff 7 Xylo & Tri, Bells & Tom, SD,
BD, CC, Tamb & Cast, Timp
Sonic Adventures for Percussion Ensemble by Steve Riley is a collection of 6 pieces for 4-6
players, ranging in difficulty from Easy to Medium.

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 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!
Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

Websites

Percussion Sheet Music & Instruments

www.c-alanpublications.com
*The Ignite Series has lots of great beginner percussion ensemble repertoire.

www.rowloff.com

www.steveweissmusic.com

www.tapspace.com

www.woodshed-percussion.com
* Toronto based company that can help fill all of your percussion instrument needs

Chamber Percussion Groups

www.duopercussion.ca
* Canadian percussion ensemble, based in southwestern Ontario.

www.nexuspercussion.com
* Canadian based percussion ensemble, known worldwide.

www.torqpercussion.ca
* Canadian percussion ensemble, based in Toronto.

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 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!
Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

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 Percussion Ensemble - Let's Get Started!
Dave Robilliard - dave.robilliard@gmail.com

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