I found something interesting while recently going through some of my old correspondence. Here is a postcard that I received in 1992 after meeting famed Indiana University Professor George Gaber. George and I studied with the same teacher in N.Y., Joe Castka. Joe played percussion in the NBC Symphony and at Radio City Music Hall and worked closely with Billy Gladstone, Sam Herman and Harry Breuer (who I later befriended). George was one of Joe's first pupils, and I one of his last. He was a terrific teacher from the "old school" method of instructing. I consider myself very fortunate to have met and studied with him...
It was announced that Grover Endorser and St. Louis Symphony Principal Percussionist, Will James, will be joining the music department faculty at the University of Missouri. Will has played with many outstanding ensembles including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Orchestra, and Chautauqua Festival Orchestra. In addition to his experience as an orchestral player, he has performed several solo recitals across the country as well as soloing with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony. Will has continued his career as a chamber musician in Saint Louis. He is a regular artist performing with the Pulitzer Foundation Chamber Music Series and plays in a Percussion...
Join Grover Pro Endorser Matt Greenwood on September 10, 2016 at the Escambia (FL) H.S. for a robust day of clinics, workshops and percussive fun! Also appearing will be the Dr. Luis Rivera and the South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band drum line. The doors open at 9am, so, don't be late... Matthew Greenwood currently serves as Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at the University of South Alabama where he teaches applied lessons, assists with the USA Percussion Ensemble, USA Steel Band and World Music Ensemble, and teaches Introduction to Music for non-majors. Matt is also on staff with the Jaguar Marching Band as Assistant Director of the Jaguar Drumline, where he assists with arranging and instructing of the battery and front...
What is the most important aspect of playing timpani? My answer is tone production because without quality tone production from the timpani you might as well play your part on card board boxes. Let’s look at a couple of exercises that will help every timpanist get the most out of their playing by concentrating on listening to the tone that is produced on these wonderful instruments. When I’m teaching a beginner to produce the best sound that they can on the timpani I have them take a ball type mallet (the Grover Pro TMB-T1 for instance) and have them hold it vertically by the end of the shaft above the playing spot on the drum (about 3 inches from the...
The Bartok "Concerto for Orchestra" was commission by Serge Koussevitzky and premiered by the Boston Symphony in 1943. While studying the timpani part with Vic Firth, I remember him telling me how Bartok was at the rehearsals for the premier, sitting and commenting from the first balcony! I've often looked up from the stage at the very spot where Bartok sat and wondered what he was trying to achieve with the snare drum solo that opens the second movement. Leave it to my good friend, colleague and percussion scholar, Mike Quinn, to shed some light on the subject: "I thought you might be interested in the following story that comes from a former teacher of mine, Simon Sternberg, who played this...
