FAC Percussion I Laying Foundations

Now at mid-year, Fine Arts Center Percussion I students have successfully laid foundations in basic technique, rudimental and concert snare drumming, rock drum set playing, and reading in each of these areas. Thanks to these foundations, they are now prepared for profitable work in each skill – and some others as well. A productive practice session for your Percussion I student should last an hour or more each school day, with the additional time needed for exploration and self-expression set aside each day of the weekend.
Here are the areas FAC Percussion I students are working on as of early February:

BASIC TECHNIQUE
• Long rolls, especially exercises out of George Lawrence Stone's famous book Stick Control (I strongly advice purchasing this invaluable book)
3, 5, and 6-stroke rolls, specially as they relate to hand development and use at the drum set
• Flam rudiments
• Drag rudiments

SNARE DRUM MUSICAL STUDIES
• Rudimental studies from Edward Freytag's Rudimental Drummer's Cookbook
• Concert snare drum studies from Garwood Whaley's Fundamental Studies for Snare Drum

JAZZ DRUMMING
• Ride cymbal practice with the double bass sound file from John Riley's The Art of Bop Drumming
• Extensive four-way coordination and time keeping adapting exercises from Ted Reed's Progressive Steps for Syncopation
• Improvisation in jazz style based upon these exercises


ROCK DRUMMING
• Continued practice on studies from John Pickering's The Drummer's Cookbook, including both 8th and 16th-note ride patterns
• Rock fills and solos based upon the "three eighth note polyrhythm," legato 3, 5, and 6-stroke rolls, and polyrhythmic paradiddle patterns
• Improvisation in rock style based upon these exercises

It should seem clear that a daily one-hour session is just enough to address each one of these areas. Extended weekend practice sessions will deepen and solidify technique while personalizing the all-important expressive and improvisatory aspects of our study.