Fossil Ridge High School Marching Band 2019

Percussion Exercise and Audition Packet

FRHS PERCUSSION

Welcome to the 2019 FRHS Percussion Section! We are excited to have you with us on this season’s journey and are looking forward to working with you. The marching band experience is a rewarding part of being involved with band and we know this upcoming season will be one to remember. Enclosed you will find warm-ups, technique exercises, and music that will be useful to you in preparing for the upcoming camp dates, auditions, and for the whole school year. Throughout the camp dates and audition process you will be asked to use the information and feedback we give you to the best of your ability to improve as a musician. We expect to see small improvements from day to day that will lead to big payoffs in the future! Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare:

WHAT WE LOOK FOR FROM OUR PERCUSSIONISTS The FRHS Way Maturity and responsibility at ALL TIMES! This includes moving equipment, equipment care, conduct (in and out of rehearsal), and performance. We look for the percussion section to be a model for the whole band to follow. Be Positive This is most important! In order for us to achieve our goals and perform at a high level we need to work together. Supporting one another, helping each other, and spending time together as a section are important factors for your growth, and the GROUP’S growth. Stay Prepared Not only does the marching season pass by quickly, but so does the school year. It is best to stay organized, and develop and maintain a steady diet of practicing. This will serve you well all year and beyond! Perform with Great Technique and Sound Percussionists at FRHS will look and sound like the best around. We will do our best to provide instruction and feedback to help you along the way. Perform with Emotion and Energy One of the best parts of being a musician is the performance. Whether it’s for your family, friends, or for strangers there is nothing like connecting with an audience through a high quality performance. In order to make that connection you must put a piece of yourself, emotionally and physically, into not only your performance, but your preparation as well.

INSTRUMENT SPECIFICS Battery Percussion Sound quality, rhythmic accuracy, good technique, being able to move your feet in time while playing, expression and energy Front Ensemble

● Keyboards- Sound quality, 2 and 4 mallet technique, rhythmic accuracy, expression and energy

● Rack Perc.- Sound quality, rhythmic accuracy, good technique, expression and energy ● Synth/Bass Guitar- Sound quality, rhythmic and pitch accuracy, expression and energy

FRHS 2019 ‘MINI CAMP’ AUDITION PROCESS We will be holding auditions for both the battery and front ensemble sections for the upcoming 2019 season on May 21st. Through this audition process we will determine player placement within sections, but this is also an opportunity for the instructors to better assess individual needs for future development. The audition is not meant to be something stressful. This is a learning opportunity to receive valuable feedback and place each member of the section where they will be the most comfortable and contribute in the most positive way for the whole group. Below is an outline of our ‘Mini Camp’ schedule: MINI CAMP DATES May 7-8, 4-6:15pm- Percussion Mini Camp

● Only incoming Freshman and new members are required at these two sessions May 13, 4-6:15pm- Percussion Mini Camp

● All FRHS Percussion Section and incoming members are required to attend May 20, 4-8pm- Full Band Mini Camp/Audition Day

● For all FRHS Band members ● May 20- Individual Perc. auditions/Setting sections

IMPORTANT! If you cannot make it to one or any of the dedicated ‘Perc. Mini Camp’ dates, this is okay. However, if you cannot be at the May 21st audition day you will not be considered for the following instruments: Snare Drum, Quad Drums, Bass Drums, Keyboards (Marimba, Vibraphone, Xylophone). Please contact Meghan Munoz (mmunoz@psdschools.org) or John Meriwether (jdmeriw@gmail.com) with any concerns or special case needs.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS Battery Percussion

● Snare Drum- Exercises (TBD), Excerpt ● Quad Drums- Exercises (TBD), Excerpt ● Bass Drums- 16th Note Timing

*Those auditioning for the drumline will be expected to mark time to all exercises and excerpts. **If you wish to be considered for Snare or Quads you must play the audition excerpts provided in this packet. Front Ensemble

● Marimba- Greens, 4 Mallet Timing, A Minor Ex., 4 Mallet Excerpt ● Vibraphone- Greens, A Minor Ex., 2 Mallet Excerpt ● Xylophone- Greens, 2 Mallet Excerpt

*If you are interested in being considered for marimba you must play the 4 mallet audition excerpt provided in this packet. **Those auditioning for marimba will also be considered for vibraphone. There is no need to play the 2 mallet excerpt. IMPORTANT! Every position on every instrument is up for grabs. While being a veteran may give you an advantage in terms of our expectations, you must work hard and earn your spot. THERE ARE NO GUARANTEED HOLDOVER PLACEMENTS FROM LAST SEASON. We encourage everyone to strive for excellence and pursue what they want. The harder we all work, and the better prepared we all are, the better the whole program will be! As you all begin your preparation please remember this:

“If you don’t ask the question, the answer will always be no.” In other words, JUST GO FOR IT.

John D. Meriwether Director of Percussion, FRHS

TECHNIQUE OUTLINE The basis of percussion technique is very relaxed and not forced at all. There should be no tension from the shoulder to the fingers. NO TENSION equals a consistent, full sound! This concept holds true for both battery percussion and mallet playing. The basic grip we use for snare drum, timpani, and mallets is called ‘Matched Grip’. MATCHED GRIP The stick is held between the thumb and first finger, what we call the ‘Fulcrum’. THERE SHOULD BE NO DAYLIGHT VISIBLE BETWEEN THE THUMB AND FIRST FINGER! The remaining fingers are wrapped comfortably around the stick. When in playing position, the crease between the thumb and first finger should be at 45 degree angle in relationship to the playing surface. The arms should hang naturally down at either side of the body. The beads should be about 1/4” from the rim closest to you and exactly 1/2” above the playing surface. In playing position, the stick is kept low to take FULL advantage of the natural rebound. STROKE The basic OVERALL stroke is referred to as wrist legato. ALL strokes are initiated from the wrist. When playing a true wrist legato stroke, the wrist turns naturally and all fingers remain in contact with the stick at all times. Finger pressure is relaxed, with little to no tension, and the fulcrum remains in tact. As tempo increases, fingers are increasingly utilized and fulcrum pressure can increase. It is crucial to remember that the wrist controls the majority of all stroke motions, and the FULCRUM REMAINS INTACT AT ALL TIMES. THE TWO STROKE CATEGORIES LEGATO- Stick doesn’t stop (we see a fluid, continuous motion)

● Start with an ‘Up Stroke’ ● Throw the bead down to the head ● Allow it to rebound naturally back to its original position (let the energy help push the

wrist back up) ● Similar principal to dribbling a ball

STACCATO- Stick is stopped by the wrist, not allowing any rebound. The difference in this stroke takes place AFTER contact with the playing surface.

● Start with an ‘Up Stroke’ ● Throw the bead down to the head ● Control the stick by maintaining contact with all fingers and stopping the wrist at the

bottom of the stroke. THERE IS NO REBOUND. GENERAL CONCEPTS

● THE INTENSITY OF THE STROKE NEVER CHANGES REGARDLESS OF VOLUME OR TEMPO.

● Volume increase is executed through change in height only. ● Quality of sound is number one!!!

Legatos

JohnD.Meriwether

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