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Triangle & 2001

Tambourine
Rich Holly
NASHVILLE
N O V E M B E R 1 4 – 1 7
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Playing percussion accessories may be some of the most gratifying performance experiences you will have.
Why? Because you can be creative! Although there are time-honored traditions on how to play these instru-
ments, in the last 30+ years we have seen and heard several variations on playing techniques and available
sounds. Percussionists from around the world, in classical, pop, jazz, studio, and world music settings have
been discovering and utilizing these other techniques with great success.

It is important that you know and understand the basic playing techniques and available sounds first. These
will serve you quite well in concert band, wind ensemble, and orchestral settings. Many of you will have the
opportunity to play percussion in a jazz ensemble or perhaps in a band of your own. That’s where these
performance variations will really come into play. These variations are based on the performance techniques
of similar instruments from cultures around the world, and today’s orchestral players are finding many of these
quite useful, too.

The most important thing is to have fun! Try these only as a starting point – there is no limit to the use of your
own creativity.

Triangle

When holding the triangle in a clip in the standard fashion, it is possible and often desirable to muffle the
sound of the triangle with the heel and/or the fingers of the hand that is holding the clip. The following ex-
ample is one way to attain a useful pattern using this technique. Although certainly not traditional, this pattern
is reminiscent of the guiro pattern in a Cuban Cha-Cha.

Tambourine

The more experienced I become, the more “hip” I think tambourine is. Each year I see other players and learn
more techniques. Some of the most influential playing I have seen has come from pandeiro players from
Brazil. This example is one pandeiro pattern that is useful for playing several beats worth of eighth-notes or
sixteenth-notes.
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Bass Drum &

Suspended Cymbal
2001
Rich Holly
NASHVILLE
N O V E M B E R 1 4 – 1 7
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Bass Drum

The bass drum of a Brazilian samba band (or “school”) is called a surdo. In the West African country of
Guinea, they use bass drums of three sizes: kenkeni, sangban, and dununba. Bass drums are universal! By
utilizing various muffling techniques, it is possible to re-create the sounds and rhythmic patterns of these
other types of bass drums. The first example is from a samba rhythm, and the second is from a Guinean
rhythm.

Suspended Cymbal

Of all the accessory instruments, suspended cymbals have perhaps the most variation in how they may
sound. They may be struck in several places, all of which produce a different sound. They may be struck with
different beaters (snare drum sticks, triangle beaters, soft mallets, etc.) as well as with different parts of the
beaters. You can bow the edge of a suspended cymbal. And, you may hang interesting items across them,
such as keys or metal-bead lighting fixture pull-chains. For suspended cymbal rolls, however, I am partial to
using vibraphone mallets unless the composer specifies snare drum sticks. Vibraphone mallets are designed
to set a piece of metal in motion, whereas marimba mallets are designed to set a piece of wood in motion and
timpani mallets are designed to set a big sheet of plastic or calfskin in motion. For the smoothest suspended
cymbal rolls, picture the cymbal as a clock dial and use vibraphone mallets placed at about 4:00 and 8:00.
When crescendoing, keep in mind the volume of a suspended cymbal can overpower a complete band or
orchestra, so save the majority of the crescendo for the last couple of beats.
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Maracas and other

Shakers & Congas
2001
Rich Holly
NASHVILLE
N O V E M B E R 1 4 – 1 7
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Maracas and other Shakers

Maracas are a favorite with concert band composers. Maracas and other shakers are indigenous instruments
in many cultures. In Venezuela, in a musical style name Joropo (say ho-RO-po), maracas have dried frogs’
eggs as their beads! Played with up and down motions, shakers are capable of producing different sounds
and rhythmic combinations.

Congas

Concert band composers are beginning to find uses for congas in their percussion parts. If you play in a jazz
ensemble that has more than one drummer, you will find that some knowledge of congas comes in very
handy. While a brief introduction can get you going, I highly recommend deeper study through books and
videos if private lessons on congas are not available to you. Most importantly, develop good sounds – the
open tone, the bass tone, and the slap. The left hand often plays a combination tone, typically referred to as
“heel-toe,” but which may also be played as a bass tone (heel) to a slap in the middle of the head (toe). The
following pattern is basic to many Afro-Cuban styles, and is called Tumbao. For this pattern, the sequence of
your hands will be L-L-R-L-L-L-R-R.
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Claves
2001
Rich Holly
NASHVILLE
N O V E M B E R 1 4 – 1 7
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Claves

There are several concert band works that include claves in the arsenal of required percussion instruments.
Not many of these, however, utilize the traditional Cuban rhythms for which these instruments are known.

There are literally hundreds of instruments which we refer to as accessories, and many of these are so com-
monplace now that the term accessories no longer applies to them. It’s important to treat these instruments as
just that – instruments that require practice in order to achieve good, clear and consistent sound, accurate
rhythms, and musical phrasing. Take the time to practice these instruments so that when needed, you are
comfortable playing them and you sound great. And above all, be creative!
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5
Accessory
Percussion
Instrument
2001
Technique NASHVILLE
John R. Beck N O V E M B E R 1 4 – 1 7
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Bass Drum – Low Rumble

Use arm weight and heavy beaters for a deep soumd.

Crash Cymbals – Use Gravity. Relax and allow the cymbals to move freely.

Listen to the ensemble for clues to note length. Use the cymbals as “color” instruments.

Suspended Cymbal – Use yarn mallets and listen to the instrument.

Roll at the edge of the plate.

Tambourine – Clear Articulation.

Use fingers, fist, knees, or both hands to achieve crisp rhythms.

Make the jingles “jump” together.

© 2001 Nola Music

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6
Accessory
Percussion
Instrument
2001
Technique NASHVILLE
John R. Beck N O V E M B E R 1 4 – 1 7
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Triangle – Consistent Sound and Tone Color.

Strive for a “shimmer” with many overtones. (45° angle)

Wood Block/Temple Blocks – Rubber mallets and single stroke rolls.

The wood block should have a mellow tone. No snare drum sticks!

Castanets – Think of “Spanish Dancing.”

Use flams wherever possible for authentic sound.

Sleigh Bells – Anticipate rhythms.

Move this instrument carefully.

© 2001 Nola Music