PERCUSSION INSTRUCTION IN BEGINNING BAND

FOR PROGRAMS WITH A SINGLE TEACHER

A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the Degree of
Master of Music

Micah Martin

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

May 2017
 PERCUSSION INSTRUCTION IN BEGINNING BAND
FOR PROGRAMS WITH A SINGLE TEACHER

Micah A. Martin

APPROVED:

Thesis Advisor ____________________________________________

Dr. Russell L. Jones, Department of Music

Committee Member ____________________________________________

Dr. Jim Clanton, Department of Music

Committee Member ____________________________________________

Dr. Kenny McDougle, Teaching and Leadership
 PERCUSSION INSTRUCTION IN BEGINNING BAND
FOR PROGRAMS WITH A SINGLE TEACHER

An Abstract of the Thesis by

Micah A. Martin

The primary purpose of this study was to find the best methods for

developing students into total percussionists in beginning band programs with

only one band director on staff. A total percussionist is defined as one who is

capable of playing keyboard percussion, snare drum, timpani, and the accessory

instruments. The study consists of a survey to assess individual approaches to

percussion instruction in beginning band.

A questionnaire was developed using Google Forms and a link was

emailed to band directors in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. A link was also

posted on the Facebook pages of the Southwest Missouri Music Educators

Association and the Missouri Music Educators Association.

Most of the respondents start percussion along with the other band

students on both snare drum and keyboard percussion in the sixth grade. About

four-fifths of them do not meet with percussionists for rehearsals or lessons

outside of class. Around two-thirds indicated that their percussionists do not take

lessons outside of school. Over half of them are able to meet class daily. Over

half meet at least ninety minutes per week. However, many of the directors

believe that they need more time for beginning band, and especially percussion.

iii
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION
Statement of Purpose…….…………………………………………………………2
Need for the Study…………..…………………………………………………….. 2
Procedure………………………….……………………………………………………3
Research Questions…………………………………………………………….……3
Limitations………………………………………………………………………………4

II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Expansion of the Percussion Section in Band Literature…………….…6
Selecting the Beginning Percussion Student……………………………..16
Recommended Methods for Teaching
Percussion in the Beginning Band ………………………………………..18
Discipline and the Percussion Section……………………………………...21

III. DESIGN, ADMINISTRATION, AND RESULTS OF THE SURVEY

Design of the Survey…………………………………………………………..…26
Administration of the Survey…………………………………………………..26
Data Collection……………………………………………………………………...27
Results of the Survey…………………………………………………………..…27

IV. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary……………………………………………………………………………...67
Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………68
Recommendations………………………………………………………………….70

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………………….73

APPENDIX .…………………………………………………………………………………....76
Survey of Band Directors
Teaching at the Beginning Level………………………….………………..77

iv
 LIST OF TABLES

Table A…………………………………………………………………………………………………….13
Table 1…………………………………………………………………………………………………….27
Table 2…………………………………………………………………………………………………….28
Table 3…………………………………………………………………………………………………….29
Table 4…………………………………………………………………………………………………….30
Table 4.1………………………………………………………………………………………………….32
Table 5…………………………………………………………………………………………………….33
Table 5.1………………………………………………………………………………………………….34
Table 6…………………………………………………………………………………………………….36
Table 7…………………………………………………………………………………………………….37
Table 8…………………………………………………………………………………………………….38
Table 8.1………………………………………………………………………………………………….39
Table 8.2………………………………………………………………………………………………….41
Table 9…………………………………………………………………………………………………….43
Table 10…………………………………………………………………………………………………..45
Table 11…………………………………………………………………………………………………..45
Table 12…………………………………………………………………………………………………..46
Table 13…………………………………………………………………………………………………..47
Table 14…………………………………………………………………………………………………..48
Table 15…………………………………………………………………………………………………..48
Table 15.1………………………………………………………………………………………………..50
Table 16…………………………………………………………………………………………………..52
Table 17…………………………………………………………………………………………………..52
Table 18…………………………………………………………………………………………………..53
Table 19…………………………………………………………………………………………………..54
Table 20…………………………………………………………………………………………………..55
Table 21…………………………………………………………………………………………………..56
Table 22…………………………………………………………………………………………………..57
Table 23…………………………………………………………………………………………………..57
Table 24…………………………………………………………………………………………………..58
Table 25…………………………………………………………………………………………………..59
Table 26…………………………………………………………………………………………………..59
Table 27…………………………………………………………………………………………………..60
Table 28…………………………………………………………………………………………………..62
Table 29…………………………………………………………………………………………………..63
Table 30…………………………………………………………………………………………………..64
Table 31…………………………………………………………………………………………………..64
Table 32…………………………………………………………………………………………………..65

v
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the twentieth century the instrumentation of the percussion

section in band scores has expanded. By looking at the score for Gustav Holst’s

First Suite in Eb,1 which uses snare drum, bass drum, timpani, cymbals,

tambourine, and triangle, and comparing it with the instrumentation required for

David R. Gillingham’s Concertino for Four Percussion and Wind Ensemble, notice

that it requires four players to play a much larger array of both pitched and non-

pitched instruments. While the percussion requirements for music of different

levels of difficulty may vary, even recent music graded 2½ or 3 may have many

more instruments.

While most high school bands are not be able to perform something as

challenging as the Concertino for Four Percussion and Wind Ensemble, most

literature written for concert bands today demands that percussionists possess

“… high creativity and sensitivity, as well as consummate skill.”2 As required

1
Gustav Holst. First Suite in Eb for Military Band, (London, Boosey & Co .Ltd., 1921).

2
John Kinyon. The Instrumental Music Director’s Source Book. (Sherman Oaks, CA:
Alfred Publishing Co. Inc., 1982) 118.

1
percussion techniques have changed with more recent literature, so too have the

responsibilities of the teacher. For the school music teacher, especially the non-

percussionist, the challenges are “many and varied.”3

In programs with a single instructor, who may also be teaching other

subjects such as choir or music appreciation, finding time for teaching the

instruments needed in the percussion section can be a serious challenge.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this study is to find the best methods for developing

students into “total percussionists” in beginning band programs with only one

band director on staff. A total percussionist is defined as one who is capable of

playing keyboard percussion, snare drum, timpani, and the accessory

instruments. Most educators agree that teaching all the instruments to

percussionists is desirable in meeting the National Standards adopted by MENC

in 1994.4

Need for the Study

When there is only one band director on the staff, the challenges of

finding adequate instructional time increases with every additional instrument

they have to teach. In addition, there are very few suggestions in the

3
Kinyon, 119.

4
MENC, The School Music Program: A New Vision, (Reston, VA), 1994.

2
instrumental methods literature for scheduling time for the great variety of

percussion instruments that need to be taught.

Procedure

A preliminary survey of literature was used to determine what authorities

have to say about incorporating instruction for the percussion section into the

band program at the beginning and intermediate level. Additional information

was gathered through discussions and interviews with individual teachers and

music store personnel.

An initial questionnaire was developed and emailed to regional band

directors in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. The topics discussed in the

questionnaire relate primarily to the survey of literature, and particularly to the

research questions shown in the next section. A link to the survey was also

posted on the Facebook page for the Missouri Music Educators Association as

well as the Facebook page for the Southwest Missouri Music Educators

Association. The questions and statements on the questionnaire were written

with the solo band director in mind. The results of the survey were analyzed and

summarized by the researcher. Recommendations for teachers and further

research concluded the project.

Research Questions

1. Are all percussion instruments taught at the same time in the beginning

class, or is the instruction phased in over time?

3
 2. At what point do you start the following instruments:

Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Keyboard Percussion, Tympani, Conga Drums,

Djembe?

3. Do all percussion students play all of the percussion instruments?

4. Do beginning students start on percussion or are they transferred?

5. Are brass, woodwind, and percussion taught together?

6. Do all sections meet all the time in the schedule?

7. Are you able to provide any individual or sectional instruction on a periodic

basis? How is it scheduled?

8. Do any students receive private lessons? Do they have to pay? Are they

taught during school hours? How often? Who is the instructor?

9. Are most solo band directors able to solve the problem of percussion

instruction satisfactorily?

10. How do the approaches to scheduling time for percussion students

depend on the circumstances of the director’s schedule and other factors?

11. What are the most practical approaches to providing additional percussion

instruction?

Limitations

Because of the need to send the questionnaire out at the beginning of the

school year, the main survey of literature could not be totally completed in

4
advance. As a result, there may be changes in the questionnaire that might be

desirable after the fact.

There was no attempt to determine the percussion skills of each solo band

director. The assumption was that all of them are qualified to teach the varied

percussion instruments. The response to the survey was voluntary.

In the review of literature, the history of percussion instruments only dealt

with instruments used in Western music.

5
 CHAPTER II

SURVEY OF LITERATURE

Expansion of the Percussion Section in Band Literature

Evidence of percussion instruments can be found in virtually every culture.

Tambourines and cymbals are even mentioned in the Bible, “David and all Israel

were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps,

lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.5”

The first percussion instruments to enter Western music came from the

Ottoman Turks. It was known as Janissary music, named after the elite corps of

royal bodyguards.6 A full Janissary band might include several bass drums,

numerous pairs of cymbals, small kettledrums, triangles, tambourines, and at

least one Turkish crescent, (called a “Jingling Johnnie” in England). The Turkish

crescent consists of an upright pole with a decorative headpiece in the shape of

a crescent with other symbols from which hung small bells and jingles and was

5
1 Chronicles 13:8 (New International Version)

6
Janissary Music. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Janissary-music. Accessed 10-30-16

6
decorated with horsetails. Berlioz said the shaking of its “sonorous locks7” adds

brilliance to marching music. C.F.D. Schubart, (a poet and composer in the 18th

century), wrote of Janissary music, “No other genre of music requires so firm,

decided and overpoweringly predominant a beat. The first beat of each bar is so

strongly marked with a new and manly accent that is virtually impossible to get

out of step.”8

The popularity of Janissary music in Europe most likely started in 1720

when it was adopted by the Polish ruler Augustus II. The uniqueness of the

sounds led to their wide use throughout Europe as part of a military spectacle.

Throughout the 18th century they were often used in opera scores such as

Christoph Gluck’s The Unexpected Encounter, and Mozart’s The Abduction from

the Seraglio. Other composers imitated the Turkish military style as in Haydn’s

“Military” Symphony No. 100 in G Major, the “Rondo alla Turca” movement of

Mozart’s Piano Sonata in A Major, K. 331, and Beethoven’s incidental music to

The Ruins of Athens.9

The kettledrums, (or timpani), arrived in Europe during the 15th century as

a cavalry instrument played on horseback by the Ottomans. As was eastern

7
James Blades. Percussion Instruments and Their History. (London, Faber and Faber
Ltd., 1984,) 265-6.

8
Ibid.

9
Janissary Music. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Janissary-music. Accessed 10-30-16.

7
custom, the timpani were paired with the trumpet and seen as a symbol of

rank.10

Timpani were first introduced to the orchestra by Jean-Baptiste Lully for

his opera Thésée in 1675.11 However, an early example of trumpet and

“kettledrum” music appears at the beginning of Claudio Monteverdi’s opera

L’Orfeo.12 Johann Sebastian Bach wrote perhaps the first kettledrum solo in his

Cantata no. 214, Tönet, ihr Pauken, (Resound, ye drums,) and he used them

again in his Christmas Oratorio. Haydn wrote significant parts for the

kettledrums, most notably in his Symphony No. 103, also known as the “Drumroll

Symphony,” and Missa in tempore belli, (Mass in Time of War,) which is also

known as Paukenmesse, (Kettledrum Mass,) due to the extended use of the

instrument. It was Beethoven, however, that “liberated”13 the kettledrums from

the trumpets and the typical tonic and dominant tunings. Berlioz scored the

timpani in his Grand Funeral and Triumphal Symphony, one of the earliest works

for wind band to include a percussion section.14

10
Don Michael Randel. The New Harvard Dictionary of Music, (Cambridge, MA: The
Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1999,) 425.

11
Randel, 426.

12
Encyclopædia Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/art/kettledrum Accessed 9-11-
16.

13
Randel, 426.

14
Stephen L. Rhodes. Wind Band History.
http://www.lipscomb.edu/windbandhistory/rhodeswindband_05_19thcenturyeurope.htm
Accessed 10-16-16.

8
 The snare drum was first limited to “works with a martial flavor, such as

Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks and Haydn’s Military Symphony, no.

100.”15 The first documented use of the snare drum was in 1706 when the

French composer Marin Marais used the instrument in the storm scene of his

opera Alcyrone. Rossini wrote a solo for the snare drum in his opera, The

Thieving Magpie, but it did not become a standard instrument in the orchestra

until Rimsky-Korsakov and other Russian composers in the late 19th century

began incorporating it more frequently.16 The snare drum also made its first

appearance in band music in Berlioz’s Grand Funeral and Triumphal Symphony.17

The bass drum was rare in the symphony orchestra until the 18th century

when Janissary music became popular in Europe.18 In fact the bass drum was

called a Turkish Drum when it was first introduced. Initially it was used for

special effects as in Haydn’s Military Symphony No. 100.19 Tchaikovsky and other

Romantic composers called for the bass drum and cymbals to be played

simultaneously. Verdi asked for hard, loud blows in the “Dies Irae” section of his

15
Randel, 244.

16
Britannica Academic, http://library.pittstate.edu:3736/levels/collegiate/article/68364
accessed 9-11-16.

17
Rhodes.
http://www.lipscomb.edu/windbandhistory/rhodeswindband_05_19thcenturyeurope.htm
Accessed 10-16-16.

18
Randel, 244.

19
Britannica Academic, http://library.pittstate.edu:3736/levels/collegiate/article/13654
Accessed 10-29-16.

9
1874 Requiem. Like the snare drum and timpani before it, the bass drum was

also used in Berlioz’s Grand Funeral and Triumphal Symphony.20

Cymbals came to Europe during the Middle Ages and were depicted in the

Cantigas de Santa Maria21, a collection of over 400 songs celebrating the

miracles of the Virgin Mary.22 They were probably first used in the modern

orchestra by Nicolaus Strungk in his 1680 opera, Esther. Like the bass drum, the

cymbals did not become popular until the Janissary music craze and were used

by composers such as Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Berlioz in their

aforementioned works.

Named for its shape, the triangle was known in Europe by the 14th

century. It originally had rings attached to it for a jingling effect similar to the

Turkish crescent. The triangle entered the orchestra with cymbals and bass drum

losing its rings around 1800. In the 19th century it was used purely for its sound

as in Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, also known as the

“Triangle Concerto.”23

Rounding out the percussion instruments of the Janissary bands is the

tambourine. (While the Turkish crescent is a member of Janissary music it is not

20
Rhodes.
http://www.lipscomb.edu/windbandhistory/rhodeswindband_05_19thcenturyeurope.htm
Accessed 10-29-16.

21
Randel, 218.

22
Cantiga. https://www.britannica.com/art/cantiga#ref6986. Accessed 10-30-16.

23
Triangle. https://www.britannica.com/art/triangle-musical-instrument. Accessed 10-30-
16.

10
widely used in the orchestra and wind band). The tambourine became familiar to

European musicians who observed its use by the Crusaders of the 13th century.

It was originally played by women as accompaniment to song and dance. During

the Janissary music craze in 18th century Europe, the tambourine joined the

orchestra along with the cymbals, triangle, and bass drum.24 Among the first

orchestral uses of the tambourine is Gluck’s Echo und Narziss. It soon came to

represent the gypsy life in the incidental music to Carl Maria von Weber’s

Preziosa and epitomized Spanish flair in Bizet’s Carmen.25

With the exception of the Turkish crescent, the percussion instruments

listed above, (timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle and

tambourine), make up the basic percussion section of the orchestra. That

instrumentation also transferred to the military bands of Europe and was

eventually used by Gustav Holst in his First Suite in Eb for Military Band. This

was a revolutionary piece of music in 1909 because most wind band music

written at that time were reductions of orchestral music. Holst, however, wanted

to make the concert wind band a serious medium and wrote First Suite

exclusively for wind and percussion instruments.26

24
Tambourine. https://www.britannica.com/art/tambourine. Accessed 10-30-16.

25
Vienna Symphonic Library. Tambourine.
https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Tambourine/History. Accessed 10-30-16.

26
Gustav Holst. Compositions: Suite No. 1 in E-Flat Op. 28 No. 1.
http://www.gustavholst.info/compositions/listing.php?work=4. Accessed 10-30-16.

11
 One of the few percussion instruments that was not Turkish in origin was

the xylophone, which has origins in southeast Asia and Africa.27 The first mention

of the xylophone in Europe was in 1511 by the organist Arnold Schlick who called

it a “hultze glechter”, meaning wooden percussion.28 The xylophone most likely

made its first orchestral appearance in Saint Saёns’ Danse Macabre in 1874.29

The first appearance of the xylophone in the wind band seems to be in Percy

Grainger’s Shepherd’s Hey in 1918.30

The percussion instruments of the military band would continue to serve

as the core of the wind band’s instrumentation. Composers would add

instruments such as sleigh bells and slapstick to the section throughout the 20th

century. Some instruments, like keyboard percussion, would remain a constant

and others are used for special effects. Other instruments, such as Latin

American percussion, were added as musicians became aware of them. The

growth of the percussion section can best be seen in Table A.

Gustav Holst’s First Suite in Eb from 1909 31 uses snare drum, bass drum,

timpani, cymbals, tambourine. and triangle. The instrumentation for La Fiesta

Mexicana by H. Owen Reed from 1949 includes timpani, marimba, tubular bells,

27
Xylophone https://www.britannica.com/art/xylophone. Accessed 11-26-16.

28
Blades, 203.

29
Ibid, 309.

30
The Wind Repertory Project. Shepherd’s Hey.
http://www.windrep.org/Shepherd%27s_Hey Accessed 5-1-17.

31
Gustav Holst. First Suite in Eb for Military Band. (London, Boosey & Co .Ltd., 1921).

12
4 temple blocks, snare drum, castanets, maracas, 2 tunable tom-toms, bass

drum, cymbals, gong, tambourine and an offstage band using a snare drum and

bass drum with an attached cymbal. By comparison, in 1999, Vesuvius by Frank

Ticheli uses timpani, snare drum, bass drum, tom-toms, bongos, suspended

cymbal, gong, crotale, marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, triangle, tambourine,

temple blocks, ratchet, and slapstick32. There are other selections which also use

a wide variety of percussion instruments.

Other than these famous works listed in Table A, the expansion of

percussion is often seen in easier works as well. For example, Kronos by Robert

W. Smith calls for bells, marimba, chimes, timpani, snare drum, bass drum,

cabasa, triangle, wind chimes, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, and high/low

wood blocks33. Fire Dance by David Shaffer is written for timpani, suspended

cymbal, crash cymbals, triangle, cabasa, snare drum, bass drum, bells, guiro,

mark tree, toms, and sleigh bells34.

Table A. Expansion of the Percussion Section

Year Title Composer Percussion Instrumentation

Published and/or
Arranger
1909 First Suite in Eb35 Gustav Holst timpani, snare drum, bass
drum, crash cymbals,

32
Frank Tichelli. Vesuvius, (Brooklyn, NY. Manhattan Beach Music, 1999).

33
Robert W. Smith. Kronos, (Belwin Mills Publishing Corp., 2004).

34
David Shaffer. Fire Dance, (Oskaloosa, IA. Birch Island Music Press, 2001).

35
Gustav Holst. First Suite in Eb for Military Band, (London, Boosey & Co .Ltd., 1921).

13
 suspended cymbals,
tambourine, triangle
1918 Shepherd’s Hey36 Percy Grainger xylophone, bells, timpani,
triangle, suspended cymbal,
crash cymbal, snare drum,
bass drum
1937 Lincolnshire Percy Grainger timpani, xylophone,
Posie37 glockenspiel, handbells,
tubular bells, snare drum,
bass drum, and cymbals
1949 La Fiesta H. Owen Reed timpani, marimba, tubular
Mexicana38 bells, 4 temple blocks, snare
drum, castanets, maracas, 2
tunable tom-toms, bass
drum, cymbals, gong,
tambourine.
offstage band: snare drum,
bass drum with cymbal
attached
1952 Symphony No. Morton Gould timpani, bass drum, cymbals,
IV39 chimes, marching machine,
snare drum, tubular bells,
xylophone
1967 Variations on a John Barnes timpani, glockenspiel,
Korean Folk Chance vibraphone, xylophone, snare
Song40 drum, bass drum, suspended
cymbals, crash cymbals,
gong, temple blocks, triangle

36
The Wind Repertory Project. Shepherd’s Hey.
http://www.windrep.org/Shepherd%27s_Hey Accessed 10-9-16.

37
The Wind Repertory Project. Lincolnshire Posie.
http://www.windrep.org/Lincolnshire_Posy Accessed 10-9-16.

38
The Wind Repertory Project. La Fiesta Mexicana.
http://www.windrep.org/La_Fiesta_Mexicana. Accessed 10-9-16.

39
The Wind Repertory Project. Symphony No. IV (Gould).
http://www.windrep.org/Symphony_IV_(Gould). Accessed 10-9-16.)

40
John Barnes Chance. Variations on a Korean Folk Song. (New York City, NY: Boosey &
Hawkes, 1967).

14
 1972 Chorale and John Zdechlik timpani, glockenspiel,
Shaker Dance41 xylophone, snare drum, bass
drum, crash cymbals,
suspended cymbals, triangle
1988 A Child’s Garden David Maslanka glockenspiel, marimba,
of Dreams42 vibraphone, xylophone, snare
drum, bass drum, tenor
drum, triangle, tambourine,
bongos, crash cymbals,
suspended cymbals, hi-hat,
gong, tam-tam, antique
cymbals, (c, c#, d,) crystal
wine glasses, anvil, ratchet,
slide whistle, temple blocks,
woodblock
1991 Gavorkna Jack Stamp timpani, snare drum, bass
Fanfare43 drum, crash cymbals, gong,
glockenspiel, tubular bells,
vibraphone, crotales, anvil,
sleigh bells, triangle
1997 Concertino for David solo percussion 1: timpani,
Four Percussion Gillingham bells, crash cymbal, bass
and Wind drums, tam-tam.
Ensemble44 solo percussion 2: marimba,
xylophone, tam-tam
solo percussion 3: marimba,
hi-hat
solo percussion 4:
vibraphone, chimes, triangle,
bass drums
1999 Vesuvius45 Frank Ticheli timpani, snare drum, bass
drum, tom-toms, bongos,
suspended cymbal, gong,

41
John Zdechlik. Chorale and Shaker Dance. (San Diego, CA: Neil A. Kjos Music
Company, 1972).

42
David Maslanka. A Child’s Garden of Dreams. (New York City, NY: Carl Fischer, 1988).

43
Jack Stamp. Gavorkna Fanfare. (San Diego, CA: Neil A. Kjos Music Company, 1991).

44
David Gillingham. Concertino for Four Percussion and Wind Ensemble. (Greensboro,
NC: C. Alan Publications, 1999.)

45
Tichelli.

15
 crotale, marimba, vibraphone,
xylophone, triangle,
tambourine, temple blocks,
ratchet, slapstick.

Selecting the Beginning Percussion Student

Beginning band students are often attracted to the percussion section

because of the “color of the percussion sound.”46 Therefore, recruiting for

percussion is very easy. When selecting beginning band students it is important

to fit them for an instrument “according to their physical and mental

capacities.”47 The same is true for selecting the percussion section. “The physical

requirements for becoming a good percussion player are obvious. Natural

rhythmic feeling, coordination, dexterity, and agility.”48 The expression “anyone

can play a drum” is a misconception and it should be stressed from the

beginning that being a percussionist requires practice and the student is

expected to learn snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani, and accessories.49

Once students understand these expectations the director can proceed to the

percussion test.

46
Charles L. Spohn and John J. Tatgenhorst, The Percussion: Performance and
Instructional Technique 2nd Ed., (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1971), 8.

47
Larry W. McCormick “The School Percussion Section.” Percussion Anthology: A
Compendium of Articles from The Instrumentalist, 4th ed. (Northfield, Ill: The Instrumentalist
Company, 1995), 215.

48
McCormick, 215.

49
Michael Dick, Starting Beginner Percussion,
file:///D:/Thesis%20Documents/texas%20bandmasters%20june%206,%202016.pdf accessed
10-9-16)

16
 A percussion test should provide criteria for selecting the percussion

student such as singing or playing back rhythmic patterns, keeping time to

recorded music, demonstrate an ability to match pitch, and even hold the sticks

and play some instruments.50

Michael Dick from the Texas Bandmaster’s Association recommends using

the following rhythm/coordination test:

 Sit in a chair and face me

 Turn a metronome on 72 beats per minute with quarter notes
 Have the students tap their right foot with you mirroring (left foot)
 While tapping the foot, clap your hands with the beat
 They will probably get this – ask them “Is it easy?”, “Which directions did
your foot go?”, “What part of the beat were you clapping on?”, etc.
 Then have them tap their foot and clap on the up-beat (this will show a
lot)
o Clap/Count Procedure
 In 4/4 time
 Clap/Count Random
 You count 1,2,3,4
 Clap on 1,2,3 or 4 – change this up
 Clap/Count Sequential
 You count 1,2,3,4
 Clap on 1 in 1st measure, 2 in 2nd measure, 3 in 3rd
measure and 4 in 4th measure
 This makes them think!
 Have them tap their right foot, then tap their right leg, then
add tapping their left leg in an alternating motion in eighth
notes (right, left, right, left, etc.)
 Go to a table and play some simple-to-hard rhythms for
them to play back to you
 Have them sing/hum a couple of pitches to you (F, Bb)51

Dick also says he prefers students with a piano background as that helps

50
Gary D. Cook Teaching Percussion, (Belmon, CA: Schirmer Books, 1997), 12.

51
Ibid.

17
them “grasp the concepts more quickly.”52 John Kinyon agrees stating,

A grounding in piano study which will have provided the serious young
student with an understanding of the elements of rhythm and melody as
well as familiarity with both treble and bass clefs may well serve as a major
qualification.53

Recommended Methods for Teaching Percussion

in the Beginning Band

Many books discuss the mechanics of playing percussion, but few explain

how to teach percussion in the context of a full band rehearsal. In his book,

Teaching Percussion, Gary Cook writes that “…a regular meeting time for training

percussionists must be established.” 54 Cook also says that percussion sectionals

are necessary and should be a top priority because of the number of instruments

a student must learn and all the techniques associated with each instrument.55

He does not discuss how to teach beginning percussionists in a heterogeneous

band class.

As percussionists advance through the band program they will be asked to

play a larger variety of percussion instruments. The students will be better

prepared for each new challenge if they are required to play everything from the

beginning. As Peter Loel Boonshaft puts it, “How sad it is to see a young person

52
Ibid.

53
Kinyon, 119.

54
Cook, 10.

55
Ibid, 11.

18
who possesses great skill on the snare drum, but is incapable of tuning timpani

or playing a scale on the xylophone. Certainly students will have strengths and

weaknesses, but we cannot allow our students to stunt their growth by only

focusing on one area of their education.”56

There are different philosophies on teaching percussion at the beginning

level. One idea is to start percussionists in the second year of band. They are

required to have one year on another band instrument.57 The advantages seem

to be that it may limit the number of percussionists and may allow for more

attention to the brass and woodwinds. One disadvantage of this approach, from

my viewpoint, is that once percussionists have been switched over they are now

a year behind in skills on percussion. It may be that some of them can catch up

quickly because they have already spent a year reading music.

Regardless of the grade level at which a percussionist begins, instruction

should include time on the snare drum and keyboard instruments, (bells,

xylophone, marimba, vibes, chimes, and others).58

In Developing the Complete Band Program, Shelley Jagow recommends

students start on keyboard percussion only. Her rationale is that students need

to learn musical notation and theory along with the rest of the band. “Be

56
Peter Loel Boonshaft. Teaching Music With Purpose, (Galesville, MD: Meredith Music
Publications, 2006), 60.

57
Boonshaft, 61.

58
Cook, 12.

19
prepared to explain a sound rationale to parents and students who ‘just want to

play drums.’”59 After they have been playing keyboard percussion for a couple

months they can be rotated on different percussion instruments as the method

book and literature allows. No one should be just a snare drummer or just a

keyboard player. The teacher should create a percussion assignment chart so

that parts are evenly distributed. 60

During a beginning band rehearsal, it is important to rotate players

throughout the class period. For example, a student who plays snare drum in the

warm-up moves to mallets for technical studies and then to bass drum in the

method book or literature.61 Beginning band method books have musical

selections that range from four to sixteen measures.

In my own experience as a solo instructor in a beginning band program I

have arranged my percussion section in such a way that each student rotates to

their right moving from bass drum to snare drum to cymbals to mallets and then

back to bass drum. In the course of one beginning band rehearsal a student has

played each percussion instrument at least once. This can be modified depending

on what percussion instrument the method book requires. Sometimes a

59
Shelley Jagow. Developing the Complete Band Program. (Galesville, MD: Meredith
Music Publications, 2007) 225.

60
Jagow, 226.

61
James A. Middleton, Larry Vanlandingham, et. al. The Complete School Band Program.
(West Nyack, NY: Parker Publishing Company, Inc., 1975) 124.

20
tambourine, triangle, or woodblock is thrown into the mix and there is a station

set-up for that as well.

J. Si Millican, author of Starting Out Right: Beginning Band Pedagogy,

recommends students should start out on snare drum first because it teaches

“…proper grip, playing spot, and technique.”62 This approach then transfers to

the other percussion instruments. Millican also recommends teaching both snare

and keyboard percussion in beginning band. Although, he does not make clear

when to introduce the keyboard percussion. However, balancing keyboard

percussion with snare drum helps to emphasize to the student that you are

teaching “complete percussionists” and not “drummers.”63

Discipline and the Percussion Section

David G. Reul says that many discipline problems in beginning band are a

result of poor planning, with the percussion section being notorious for

disruptions. They have a loosely designed seating chart and they occupy the

back of the room where they can freely roam. Regardless of the instrument

beginning percussionists start on, it is imperative that they be included in the

daily lessons. It is the fault of band directors when they spend a large amount of

rehearsal time working with the wind section with little or no time devoted to the

62
J. Si Millican. Starting Out Right: Beginning Band Pedagogy. (Lanham, MD: The
Scarecrow Press, 2012) 84.

63
Millican, 96.

21
percussion. The percussionists need to be given a seating chart and kept

involved throughout the band rehearsal.64

In a 1992 article in The Instrumentalist, Kerry Hart says, “The physical

distance between the podium and percussion section becomes a psychological

distance.”65 It is easy to feel close to the flutes and clarinets because they are

next to the director at every rehearsal. “The physical set-up alone makes the

drummers feel removed from the conductor and the rest of the band.”66 The first

challenge is to make percussionists feel like they are a part of the band. Each

percussionist should be assigned a part on every selection. They should also be

rotated through the various percussion instruments.

Another problem is the literature. The percussion parts are so different

from brass and woodwind parts that the percussion students can feel separated

on a musical level. Hart suggests implementing percussion ensembles in

beginning bands to teach young percussion students how to play musically so

they can understand their role within the band.67

A third problem suggested by Hart is that most percussionists do not own

their own instrument. While the brass and woodwind sections have an

64
David G. Reul. Getting Started With Middle Level Band. (Reston, VA: Music Educators
National Conference, 1994) 21.

65
Kerry Hart. “Disruptive Percussion Sections.” Percussion Anthology: A Compendium of
Articles from The Instrumentalist, 4th ed. (Northfield, Ill: The Instrumentalist Company, 1995)
775.

66
Ibid, 775.

67
Ibid, 775.

22
instrument to assemble and maintain, the percussion section can walk in to the

band room knowing that most of their equipment is already set-up, and that they

only have to retrieve a few items from a cabinet or storage room. The director

can foster a sense of propriety by assigning each student a percussion

instrument to care for and set-up rotating responsibilities over time. The

discipline of the percussion section will improve as students learn to take care of

and maintain their equipment.68

The final problem Hart mentions is the inevitable multi-measure rest. If a

triangle player misses a note after fifty-two measures of rest the director is less

tolerant of the player missing one note and more forgiving of a flute player

missing one note in a long series of notes. Every conductor has rehearsed a

section of music and stopped just before a percussion entrance. The director can

solve this matter by telling the percussion players to relax, (or look over their

coming entrance) until the section of music has been worked out.69

If a band has a heavy percussion section one solution suggested by Peter

Loel Boonshaft is to have students play “air” drums.

In an effort to have every percussionist play as often as possible without

creating so much volume as to be overwhelming, I suggest building or
buying comparatively silent instruments to augment traditional instruments.
This is simply the use of practice pads taken to the extreme.70

68
Ibid, 775.

69
Ibid, 775.

70
Boonshaft, 54.

23
 For example, if a piece of music calls for seven players but you have

fifteen percussionists you would assign the parts to seven players while the

remaining eight play air instruments that are either a practice pad or made out

of a cardboard box. (Air xylophone, bells, and etc. would be cut into the shape of

the keyboard layout). The air drummers are staged behind and to the side of the

traditional instrument creating a “…diagonal row moving away from the

conductor.”71 During the course of the rehearsal students can switch from the air

instruments to the traditional instruments instantaneously because they will have

their sticks or mallets in their hands and the music is already on the stand. It is

up to the director to ensure that every student has had a turn on a traditional

instrument and then post a permanent part assignment prior to the concert.

“The bottom line is that all the percussionists are on task and truly engaged in

rehearsals.”72

The director should teach the percussion section responsibility. The

percussionists need to be shown how to care for, maintain, transport, and store

their equipment. Percussionists need to know when to play and when not to

play.73 “One of the things you find with any level group is you need to keep

expectations clear.”74 Understanding what causes students to misbehave is the

71
Ibid, 55.

72
Ibid, 56.

73
Millican, 85.

74
Dr. Russell Jones, interview by author, Pittsburg, Kansas, September 12, 2016.

24
key to preventing percussion section problems. When percussionists receive

attention they will reciprocate during rehearsals.75

75
Hart, 776.

25
 CHAPTER III

DESIGN, ADMINISTRATION, AND RESULTS OF THE SURVEY

Development of the Survey

A questionnaire was developed to determine methods of instruction used

by band directors who teach or have taught beginning band as a solo teacher.

The statements and topics on the questionnaire were drawn from the

researcher’s and advisor’s experience. The questions were compiled into a

Google Form for ease of administration and data collection.

Administration of the Survey

In August 2016 the questionnaire was posted on the Missouri Music

Educator’s and Southwest Missouri Music Educator’s Facebook pages and

emailed to directors using the Pittsburg State University Jazz Festival email list

and a list of Arkansas band director’s emails from the advisor. The PSU Jazz

Festival email list contained 146 emails and the Arkansas band director email list

contained twenty-three emails. A link to the survey was posted a second time to

the MMEA and SWMMEA Facebook pages a month later in order to gain more

responses. In total thirty-one band directors completed the survey.

26
 Data Collection

By using Google Forms, the questionnaire results are automatically

collected and organized into graphs and charts. The results were also

downloaded as a spreadsheet to view individual answers.

Results

The results of the survey are presented in the following tables. The tables

appear in the order in which they occurred in the questionnaire. Following each

of these tables will be a short discussion in response to the results. The blank

column is used when an answer was left blank by the respondent.

Results for Question 1

The first question is, “Are you the only band director in your school or

district?”

Table 1. Number and Percentage of Sole Directors in their School or

District.

Total Yes %Yes No %No Blank %Blank

Responses

31 21 67.7% 10 32.3% 0 0%

The table shows over a two-thirds majority of surveyed directors are the

sole band director for beginning band.

27
 Results for Question 2

The second question is, “If you answered ‘No’ to the previous question,

have you served in the past as the only beginning band director in a school

district or building?”

Table 2. Number and Percentage of Band Directors Answering “No” to

Question 1 that Taught Beginning Band Alone in the Past.

Total Yes %Yes No %No Blank %Blank

Responses

17 17 100% 0 0% 14 54%

The table shows the directors who answered “No” to Question 1 have

taught beginning band alone at a previous school or district. This question has

fewer respondents because it is only required based on the answer to Question

1.

Since the questionnaire is intended for directors who teach beginning

band by themselves a caveat follows Question 2 as follows,

If you answered no to questions 1 & 2, you do not need to continue. If

you wish to continue the survey you are welcome to do so. If you were
the sole director in the past, answer according to what you did at that
time.

According to the results, all thirty-one directors who started taking the

survey completed it, although some may have started and not sent it in.

28
 Results for Question 3

The third question is, “What is the approximate size of your school district

in grades 6-12?”

Table 3. Size of Respondent’s School District by Size for Grades

6-12.

Response Options Number of Response % Estimated Grade

Responses Level Population
Range
Under 50 0 0% 0
51-100 2 6.5% 7-15
101-200 3 9.7% 14-28
201-300 4 12.9% 29-43
301-400 2 6.5% 44-57
401-500 4 12.9% 57-71
501-600 2 6.5% 72-85
601-700 1 3.2% 86-100
701-800 1 3.2% 101-114
Over 800 12 38.7% 114+

The table shows the size of each respondents’ school district for grades 6-

12 where they currently or previously taught beginning band as the sole director.

The “Average Grade Level Population” was figured by dividing the lowest and

highest populations for each level by seven, (for the seven grades 6-12). In

order to keep a whole number, the quotient was rounded up based on the

numbers following the decimal point. The most common school size for grades 6-

12 was “Over 800.” That means an average of at least 114 students per grade

level. There was no response for schools with a 6-12 population under fifty. It is

likely that there were no school systems that small.

29
 Results for Question 4

The fourth question is, “How many students start in beginning band on

average?”

Table 4. Beginning Band Size and School Populations

Beginning Grade Level Estimated Estimated 6-12 Responses

Band Size Population Grade Percentage Population and
Range Level of Students Range Percentage
Population in Band of
Average Responses

14 14-28 21 67% 101-200 1 - 3.2 %

15 7-15 11 100% * 51-100 2 – 6.5%

17 7-15 11 100% * 51-100 1 – 3.2

18 14-28 21 85% 101-200 2 – 6.5

57-71 65 27% 401-500

20 44-57 51 39% 301-400 2 – 6.5

25 14-28 21 100% * 101-200 4 – 12.9

29-43 35 71% 201-300 (2
57-71 65 38% responses)
401-500)

30 29-43 35 85% 201-300 2 – 6.5

30 per 114+ 114 26% Over 800 1 – 3.2

school

35 57-71 65 53% 401-500 1 – 3.2

50 114+ 114 43% Over 800 1 -3.2%

60 114+ 114 52% Over 800 (2 3 – 9.7

72-85 responses)
79 75% 501-600

30
 63 114+ 114 55% Over 800 1 - 3.2%

70 114+ 114 61% Over 800 1 - 3.2%

75 86-100 93 80% 601-700 2 - 6.5%

100 114+ 114 87% Over 800 1 - 3.2%

140 114+ 114 100% * Over 800 1 - 3.2%

150 114+ 114 100% * Over 800 2 - 6.5%

180 114+ 114 100% * Over 800 1 - 3.2%

200 in 5 114+ 114 35% (per Over 800 1 – 3.2%

schools school)

*In the above table, all estimated percentages above 100% were rounded

down to 100%.

The estimated percentage of students participating in band ranged from

approximately 26% to 100%. These are rough approximations but they give us

a general idea.

The smallest band size was 14, which includes one school or 3.2% of

those surveyed. The largest band size was 180, which includes one school or

3.2% of those surveyed. The most common beginning band size is twenty-five,

which includes 12.9% of the schools surveyed. The response “30 per school” did

not specify how many schools were involved. The response, “200 in 5 schools”

means an average of at least forty beginning band students per school.

31
 The graph below best illustrates the trend between Beginning Band Size,

Average Grade Level Population, and Percentage of Students in Beginning Band.

Table 4.1 Percentage of Students in Beginning Band

Percent of Students in Band

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
14
15
17
18
18
20
25
25
25
30
30
35
50
60
60
63
70
75
100
140
150
180
200 in 5 schools
Beginning Band Size

Estimated Grade Level Population

21 11 11 21 65 51 21 35 65 35 114 65 114114 79 114114 93 114114114114114

The schools that initially showed over 100% were rounded down to

100%. At any rate there is no clear trend or correlation with grade level size and

beginning band size. We might expect to see larger percentages in smaller

schools but that does not seem to be the case here.

The most stable trend is seen between band sizes of sixty to 100. At band

sizes of 140 and up and it is assumed that the trend would either plateau or

drop.

Since there is not a steady trend overall, the beginning band size of a

given school can depend on any number of factors such as recruiting efforts,

32
successes or history of band program, administrative support, and the abilities of

the teacher.

Results for Question 5

The fifth question is “How many percussionists do you start on average?”

Table 5. Average Number of Percussionists in Beginning Band

Number of Percussionists Started Responses Response Percentage

0 1 3.2%

0 All students had to play a wind 1 3.2%

instrument for a year and then
audition to start percussion

0-2 1 3.2%

2 2 6.4%

2-3 1 3.2%

3 4 12.9%

4 6 19.3%

5 1 3.2%

5 per school 1 3.2%

7 5 16.1%

7-8 1 3.2%

8 3 9.6%

11 1 3.2%

15 1 3.2%

20 1 3.2%

33
 Depends how many can pass the 1 3.2%
coordination test that is
administered by me.

The results were grouped together by like numbers from smallest to

largest in the above table. The most common number of beginning

percussionists is four with six responses or 19.3% of the responses. The second

most common number of beginning percussionists is seven with five responses

or 16.1%.

There were two responses for zero starting percussionists.

Two respondents clarified their answers by saying that anyone who wanted to

play percussion had to spend a year on a wind instrument. One of the directors

has different numbers each year depending on how many students pass a

coordination test, but did not give an estimate or average of how many started.

Table 5.1 Percentage of Percussionists in Beginning Band

Beginning Band Size Number of Percussionists % of Percussion in Whole

Started Band
14 0 0%

15 2-3% 13.3% to 20%

17 4 23.5%

18 2-3 11.1% to 16.7%

20 2-3 10% to 15%

25 0-4 0% to 16%

34
 30 4-5 13.3% to 16.6%

30 per school 4 13.3%

35 7 20%

50 7 14%

60 7 11.7%

63 8 12.7%

70 4 5.7%

75 7-8 9.3% to 10.7%

100 20 20%

140 This respondent did not specify how many

percussionists they start in beginning band although
they admit they start percussion later in the year based
on various factors.
150 8-15 5.3% to 10%

180 11 6.1%

200 in 5 schools 5 (per school) 12.5%

The table shows that the percentage of percussionists that start in

beginning band can vary based on director preference, student choice, and other

factors. The percentages mostly ranged between 10% and 20%. The highlighted

cells show those schools with a percentage below 10% and above 20%. When

sections are put in terms of percentages you can truly see which sections of the

band are more dominant. The school that starts seventeen in band is comprised

of nearly 25% percussion while the school that starts 180 is only 6.1%

percussion. The percentage of other sections in the band was not asked on this

35
survey. However, it is important to note that percussion parts in band literature

are not intended for a single player.

It is interesting to observe that the larger schools in general have a lower

percentage of percussionists than the smaller schools. There are two possible

reasons for this. One reason is that a certain number of players are needed to

cover all the percussion parts. Another possibility is to supply a reasonable

number of players for marching band.

Results for Question 6

The sixth question is, “Did (or do) you have difficulty trying to schedule

adequate instruction time for the variety of percussion instruments that need to

be taught?”

Table 6. Number and Percentage of Directors Having Difficulty

Scheduling Instruction Time for Variety of Percussion Instruments.

Total Yes % Yes No % No

Responses

31 22 71% 9 29%

The table shows that a clear majority of surveyed directors have difficulty

scheduling instructional time for teaching the variety of percussion instruments.

36
 Results for Question 7

The seventh question is, “Do you teach other subjects besides band?”

Table 7. Subjects Taught Other than Band

Subject Responses Response %

Choir 6 19.4%

Orchestra 0 0%

Music Appreciation 12 38.7%

Elementary General Music 2 6.5%

Guitar Class 1 3.25

Other (including band) 17 54.8%

All thirty-one directors surveyed responded to Question 7 but there are 38

total responses as directors were allowed to select more than one choice. Those

who selected more than one answer taught: Music Appreciation and Elementary

General Music; Choir and Music Appreciation; Music Appreciation and Music

Theory; Music Appreciation and Piano; and Music Appreciation and Guitar Class.

For the “Other” option the respondents were allowed to enter a response.

The “Other” responses were Music Theory, Piano or they did not teach a subject

37
other than band. Out of thirty-one respondents, fourteen, or 45.2%, did not

teach a subject other than band.

Results for Question 8

The eighth question is “What is your role in the band program in your

school? Select all that apply.”

Table 8. Director’s Role in Their Band Program

Role Responses Response %

21 67.7%
High School Director
2 6.5%
Assistant High School
Director
25 80.6%
Middle School Director
3 9.7%
Assistant Middle School
Director
3 9.7%
Intermediate School
Director
0 0%
Assistant Intermediate
School Director
7 22.6%
Elementary School
Director
0 0%
Assistant Elementary
School Director
1 3.2%
Other

38
 Question 8 allows the respondent to select multiple options because a

head director at the high school may be the assistant at the middle school and

vice-versa. This assumption was only true for two of those surveyed. Of those

one was the Assistant High School Director and the Middle School Director.

Another was the High School Director and Assistant Middle School Director. The

remaining respondents were either the head, (or only) director at all levels or

they taught just middle school.

The one respondent who selected “Other” is also the District Accompanist.

Based on the response to Question 7 they also teach Choir and Music

Appreciation. That teacher also indicated in Question 6 to having a difficult time

finding adequate instruction time to teach the various percussion instruments.

The next table deals with the related question of “Did band directors who

teach subjects other than band also have a difficult time finding adequate

instruction time to teach the various percussion instruments?” This is shown in

the table below.

Table 8.1 Directors Teaching Subjects Besides Band Who Answered

‘Yes’ to Question 6.

Has Difficulty Subjects Taught Besides Role in the Band Program

Scheduling Time Band
for Percussion
Yes Music Appreciation High School Director, Middle
School Director
Yes Music Appreciation, High School Director, Middle
Elementary General Music School Director,
Intermediate School

39
 Director, Elementary School
Director
Yes None Assistant High School
Director, Middle School
Director
Yes Music Appreciation High School Director, Middle
School Director
Yes Choir, Music Appreciation High School Director, Middle
School Director, District
Accompanist
Yes Music Appreciation, Music High School Director,
Theory Assistant Middle School
Director, Intermediate
School Director
Yes Choir, Music Appreciation High School Director, Middle
School Director
Yes No Middle School Director
Yes None High School Director, Middle
School Director
Yes I teach no other subjects Middle School Director
Yes just band High School Director
Yes Choir, Music Appreciation High School Director, Middle
School Director
Yes Choir High School Director, Middle
School Director, Elementary
School Director
Yes Music Appreciation, Piano High School Director, Middle
School Director, Elementary
School Director
Yes N/A High School Director
Yes Music Appreciation High School Director,
Elementary School Director
Yes No Middle School Director
Yes Music Appreciation High School Director, Middle
School Director
Yes None High School Director
Yes No Middle School Director
Yes None High School Director, Middle
School Director
Yes Music Appreciation, Guitar High School Director, Middle
Class School Director,
Intermediate School
Director

40
 Of the thirty-one respondents, twenty-two (70%), said they had difficulty

finding adequate instruction time to teach the various percussion instruments. Of

those twenty-two, twelve taught one class other than band, and seven taught

more than one class that was not band. Twenty of the respondents in Table 8.1

are either the head director at the high school, middle school, intermediate,

and/or elementary school, or they are the sole director for the school district.

Between the remaining two respondents one is the assistant director at the high

school and head director at the middle school and the other is the head director

at the high school and the assistant director at the middle school.

The reason for having difficulty scheduling instruction time for percussion

is clear as nineteen, or 61%, out of thirty-one respondents teach a class other

than band. This means time spent preparing lessons, grading assignments, and

possibly rehearsing outside of normal school hours.

Nine of the teachers indicated that they did not have difficulty scheduling

adequate rehearsal time for teaching percussion. Their roles and responsibilities

are shown in the table on the following page.

Table 8.2 Roles and Responsibilities of Directors Who Do Not Have

Difficulty Scheduling Instruction Time for Beginning Percussion.

Does Not Have Difficulty Subjects Taught Besides Role in the Band
Scheduling Time for Band Program
Percussion Instruction
No None Middle School Director
No None Elementary School
Director

41
 No None Middle School Director

No None Middle School Director,

Elementary School
Director
No Choir High School Director,
Middle School Director
No Choir High School Director,
Middle School Director,
Assistant Middle School
Director
No Music Appreciation High School Director,
Middle School Director
No Elementary General High School Director,
Music Middle School Director,
Elementary School
Director
No None Assistant High School
Director, Middle School
Director, Assistant
Middle School Director

Of the nine who do not have difficulty scheduling time for teaching

beginning percussion five, or 55.6%, do not teach a subject other than band.

Three out of those five only teach band at one level. None of those three teach

high school band. Only four out of nine, or 44.4%, teach a class other than

band. The reason these four do not have difficulty scheduling instruction time for

percussion is unclear. Only one of these four start percussion in the second year

of band.

42
 Results for Question 9

The ninth question is “What method book do you use for beginning

band?”

Table 9. Method Book Used in Beginning Band

Method Book # Used % Used

Accent on Achievement 2 6.5%

Essential Elements 9 29%

Essential Elements 2000 7 22.6%

Measures of Success 1 3.2%

Sound Innovations 3 9.7%

Standard of Excellence 7 22.6%

Traditions of Excellence 2 6.5%

There were two versions of Essential Elements given as a response,

“Essential Elements”76 and “Essential Elements 2000.”77 The original series of

“Essential Elements” was published in 1991.78 It may be assumed that the

respondent meant ”Essential Elements 2000” but only answered “Essential

76
Tom C. Rhoades, John Higgins. Essential Elements. (Milwaukee, WI. Hal Leonard
Corporation, 1991).

77
Tim Lautzenheiser, et. al. Essential Elements 2000: Conductor Book 1. (Milwaukee, WI.
Hal Leonard Corporation, 1999).

78
Rhodes.

43
Elements” as it is more commonly known. Regardless, they are listed as two

different responses in the table.

The most common method book used by the respondents is Essential

Elements at 29%. The second most common method books are Essential

Elements 2000 and Standard of Excellence both at 22.6%.

Essential Elements 2000,

takes a complete percussion approach. Each regular student page is

expanded to a two-page spread which includes the optional auxiliary
percussion parts and clear playing instructions for all instruments.”79

The keyboard percussion music is in the last forty-eight pages of the book.80

Standard of Excellence provides three possible systems for starting

percussion. System 1: Starting in private lessons or like-instrument

(homogenous) settings. Directors may choose how they want their beginning

percussionists to start. With System 1 they may choose to begin on snare only or

keyboard percussion only. The director’s choice will determine which page in the

percussion book their percussionists start.81

System 2: Starting the percussion as a section. In this system students

will have two books. One book contains music for drums and mallets and a

79
Lautzenheiser, 11.

80
Ibid, 11.

81
Bruce Pearson. Standard of Excellence Conductor Book 1 (San Diego, CA. Neil A. Kjos
Music Company, 2004). 37

44
second book contains music for timpani and auxiliary percussion. The author,

Bruce Pearson, recommends using both books from the beginning.82

System 3: Starting in full band settings. “All students begin together on

page 6 (score page 74). Even if some or all students have used one of the other

starting systems, page 6 is the best place to start at the first full band

rehearsal.”83 In the student percussion book page 6 takes up a two-page spread.

Unlike Essential Elements 2000, Standard of Excellence is set up where the left

page is the snare drum and on the right page is the keyboard percussion page.

It continues in this format for the remainder of the book. The “drums” page

introduces bass drum and the auxiliary instruments such as triangle, crash

cymbals, suspended cymbal, tambourine, and woodblock.84

Results for Question 10

The tenth question is, “Do you use any supplemental books for percussion

in beginning band?

Table 10. Supplemental Books for Percussion in Beginning Band

Total Yes %Yes No % No Blank % Blank

Responses

31 6 19.4% 25 80.6% 0 0%

82
Ibid, 37.

83
Ibid, 37.

84
Pearson, 6.

45
 It does not come as much surprise that 80.6% of the respondents do not

use a supplemental percussion book in beginning band as the questionnaire is

intended for those directors who teach beginning band by themselves.

Results for Question 11

The eleventh question is, “If you answered ‘Yes’ to the previous question

please list the supplemental books you use for percussion in beginning band.”

Table 11. Supplemental Percussion Books

Book Responses
Wessels Books 1
Heim-Drum Class Method 1
Can’t remember name at this time 1
Simple Steps to Successful Beginning Percussion, Wylie 1
Band Awards System 1
Not books, but plenty of handouts 1

Answering question eleven was optional and only received six responses.

The directors who answered use a variety of supplemental percussion books.

Results for Question 12

The twelfth question is “What grade-level is beginning band?”

Table 12. Grade Level in Which Beginning Band Starts.

Grade Level Response Number Response Percent

Fifth Grade 11 35.5%
Sixth Grade 18 58.1%
Seventh Grade 2 6.5%
Other 0 0%

46
 Over half of the respondents have beginning band in sixth grade. Thirty-

five percent start in fifth grade and the remaining 6.5% begin in seventh grade.

Results for Question 13

The thirteenth question is “How long is your beginning band class time?”

Table 13. Length of Beginning Band Class Time

Class Length Response Number Response Percent

20-30 Minutes 7 22.6%
31-39 Minutes 4 12.9%
40-49 Minutes 14 45.2%
50+ Minutes 6 19.4%

Almost half of the respondents have a class that is 40-49 minutes long.

Questions regarding days per week and school scheduling systems are answered

in Questions 14 and 15. Table 15.1 breaks down individual responses to each of

these three questions.

Results for Question 14

The fourteenth question is “How many days per week does beginning

band meet?”

47
Table 14. Number of Days Per Week That Beginning Band Meets

Number Per Week Response Number Response Percent

1 0 0%
2 3 9.7%
2 ½ (alternating days) 4 12.9%
3 3 9.7%
4 3 9.7%
5 18 58.1%

Results for Question 15

The fifteenth question is “Which scheduling style best describes your

situation for beginning band?”

Table 15. Scheduling Types for School Districts

Scheduling Type Response Number Response Percent

Traditional Scheduling 20 64.5%
Block Scheduling 2 6.5%
Rotating Scheduling 7 22.6%
Modular or Flex 0 0%
Scheduling
Other 2 6.5%

The majority of respondents have traditional schedules where they meet

five times a week at the same time. Block scheduling is rare at the elementary

school level. Block scheduling is characterized by “longer class periods

(approximately ninety minutes in length).”85 The alternative form of block

85
Darwin E. Walker. Teaching Music: Managing the Successful Music Program. (New
York, NY: Schirmer Books, 1998) 141.

48
scheduling is sometimes known as A/B or odd/even. This involves a “prescribed

block of four courses on day one and a different set of four courses on day 2.”86

Rotating scheduling is based on traditional scheduling except classes are

interchanged to “add an additional class without lengthening the school day. In

essence, what results is a seven-period schedule in a six-period day.”87 Modular

or Flex Scheduling “changes schedule patterns on a weekly as well as a daily

basis…module lengths stay the same for the entire length of the schedule…the

average is twenty minutes in length.”88 The two respondents who selected

“Other” could fill in what their scheduling is like. One wrote, “Meet with like

instruments one day per week.” This respondent also said beginning band is five

days per week at 40-49 minutes. It can be assumed each day might be a

different section coming in for rehearsal. While this may be a very focused

rehearsal for individual instruments it seems as though building consistency

would be problematic. The other respondent wrote “Students meet during

enrichment.” They also meet four days a week for 20-30 minutes. For some

schools this may be the best solution to keep band in the schedule. They

mention on a later response that they split into like-instrument classes for a

shorter class period.

Questions twelve through fifteen deal with the scheduling of beginning

band. While there may be a clear majority for each response, the scheduling

86
Ibid.

87
Ibid, 134
88
Ibid, 138.

49
type and length of class times vary from school to school. The responses have

been organized by length of class time and grade level.

Table 15.1 Individual Scheduling Responses

Grade Level for Length of Days Per Week of Schedule Style for
Beginning Band Beginning Band Beginning Band Beginning Band
2 1/2 (alternating Rotating
5th 20-30 minutes days) scheduling
Rotating
5th 20-30 minutes 3 scheduling
Rotating
5th 20-30 minutes 3 scheduling
Traditional
5th 20-30 minutes 5 scheduling
2 1/2 (alternating
5th 20-30 minutes days) Block scheduling
Rotating
5th 31-39 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
5th 31-39 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
5th 31-39 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
5th 31-39 minutes 5 scheduling
Rotating
5th 31-39 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
5th 40-49 minutes 2 scheduling
Rotating
6th 20-30 minutes 2 scheduling
Students meet
6th 20-30 minutes 4 during enrichment
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Rotating
6th 40-49 minutes 2 scheduling
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling

50
 Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 50+ minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 50+ minutes 5 scheduling
Traditional
6th 50+ minutes 4 scheduling
2 1/2 (alternating
6th 50+ minutes days) Block scheduling
Traditional
6th 50+ minutes 3 scheduling
2 1/2 (alternating Rotating
6th 50+ minutes days) scheduling
Traditional
7th 40-49 minutes 4 scheduling
Traditional
7th 40-49 minutes 5 scheduling

There are two respondents who meet 2 ½ days a week for 20-30

minutes, which is normally not considered an adequate amount of time. (They

are highlighted in a dark gray). One is on block scheduling and the other is on a

rotating schedule. Another respondent meets for 20-30 minutes 2 days a week

on a rotating schedule, (highlighted in light gray). Establishing consistency from

lesson to lesson might be a challenge for these three bands.

51
 Results for Question 16

The sixteenth question is “Have you ever requested scheduling changes to

help with beginning band instruction?”

Table 16. Directors Who Requested Scheduling Changes

Options Response Number Response Percent

Yes, and They Accepted All or Part of 13 41.9%
My Request
Yes, and they Denied My Request 9 29%
No 9 29%

Thirteen of the respondents made a scheduling request that was totally or

partially accepted. Nine had their requests denied and another nine did not make

a request. In total twenty-two, or 71%, made a scheduling change request with

59.9% having all or part of their requests accepted.

The scheduling changes that were accepted are answered in Question 17.

Results for Question 17

The seventeenth question is “If part of your request was accepted please

explain.”

Table 17. Scheduling Requests That Were Accepted.

Responses Response Number

I requested daily contact. 1
We used to have beginning band 3 days a week for 30 1
minutes. I requested more time.

52
 How we divide brass and woodwind classes. 1
Unfortunately, percussion gets stuck with either
woodwind or brass.
6th grade band used to be every day but they tried to get 1
rid of it altogether. After protesting, they agreed to allow
band to meet twice a week for 25 minutes.
I requested that beginning band meet in two classes that 1
alternate days with percussion meeting every day, and
that my class time was extended from 35 minutes to 45
minutes.
We can split like-instrumentation but for shorter class 1
periods.
I usually need to change some schedule to get all my 1
woodwinds in one class and brass and percussion in the
other.
Multiple classes for beginners, split sectionals. 1
I requested that I only have two sections of beginning 1
band as opposed to four. That was approved. I also
asked for homogeneous classes. That was denied.

There is a lot of variety in these requests and responses, but these nine

teachers were able to get some schedule changes made which usually met their

needs more satisfactorily.

Results for Question 18

The eighteenth question is “Do you start students on percussion in

beginning band?”

Table 18. Directors Who Start Percussion in Beginning Band.

Total Responses Yes %Yes No % No

31 26 83.9% 5 16.1%

53
 The majority of band directors who took the survey start percussion in

beginning band. One reason may be that the respondent is the only director at

that school or district and it is easier to for them to start all the instruments at

once.

Results for Question 19

The nineteenth question is “If you answered ‘No’ to the previous question,

at what point do you start percussionists?” This question is only required if the

respondent answered “No” to question eighteen. There were only five responses

for question nineteen.

Table 19. When Directors Start Beginning Percussion Other than

Beginning Band

Options Response Number Response Percent

Second Semester/later in the year of 0 0%
beginning band
Second Year of Band 3 60%
Other 2 40%

For the “Other” option, the respondents were allowed to submit their own

response. The “Other” responses were “After six weeks or so, all students must

play off requirements in my 'rank system' to make an "A." This respondent

explains:

All who make an A are then qualified to attempt the coordination test. If
passed, they are allowed to switch to percussion. It is the ONLY way to go
as those who are playing percussion now know all of their notes, and mallet
percussion is a breeze. Since they are all coordinated, the complications of
rolling, rhythms are not difficult to overcome.”

54
 Three of the respondents said they start percussionists in the second year

of band. The remaining respondent said he/she start percussionists the “3rd year

or after as needed.” The reason for this may be that they only start fourteen

students on average in beginning band and in order to limit the number of

percussionists they transfer students from a brass or woodwind instrument to

cover a percussion part. This is intriguing because on question twenty they said

there is a separate class for percussion in beginning band.

Results for Question 20

The twentieth question is “Is there a separate class for percussion

in beginning band?”

Table 20. Directors Who Have a Separate Class For Beginning

Percussion

Total Yes %Yes No % No Blank % Blank

Responses

31 8 25.8% 23 74.2% 0 0%

Of the thirty-one responses only eight have a separate class for beginning

percussion students.

55
 Results for Question 21

The twenty-first question is “On which instrument(s) do your beginning

percussion start?”

Table 21. Instruments On Which Beginning Percussion Start

Options Response Number Response Percent

Snare drum/practice pad 1 3.2%
Keyboard Percussion 6 19.4%
Alternates between snare/pad and 19 61.3%
keyboard percussion
Woodwind or Brass Instrument 5 16.1%

Almost two-thirds of directors use the same idea as Gary Cook suggests,

to start percussionists on both snare and keyboard percussion. Only five, or

16.1%, start percussionists on a woodwind or brass instrument.

Results for Question 22

The twenty-second question is “If you chose ‘Woodwind or Brass

Instrument’ on the previous question, select the response that best describes

your rationale for not starting on percussion immediately. Select all that apply.”

This question only had six responders and sixteen responses. Only five people

should have answered, based on the previous question. The question may have

been unclear to one director. Respondents were allowed to select multiple

answers.

56
Table 22. Rationales for Not Starting Students on Percussion
Immediately.

Options Response Number

Makes beginning instruction more efficient 3
Allows for more selectivity for percussionists 6
Allows easier control of numbers in percussion 2
section
Musicianship can be transferred effectively to 4
percussion from other instruments
Other 1

There is one response for “Other” and the respondent chose to clarify

his/her answers. They chose “Makes beginning instruction more efficient” and

“Allows easier control of numbers in percussion section.” Their “Other” response

is “After initiating this method, I had percussionists instead of drummers who

were capable of achieving greatness immediately.”

Results for Question 23

The twenty-third question is “Do the beginning percussionists meet for

rehearsal or lessons outside of class time?”

Table 23. Percussionists Who Meet for Rehearsal or Lessons Outside of

Class Time.

Options Response Number Response Percent

Yes, as a full section 3 9.7%
Yes, as individual or small group 0 0%
lessons.
Both 3 9.7%
No 25 80.6%

57
 Out of thirty-one respondents twenty-five, or 80.6%, do not meet for

lessons or rehearsal outside of class time. This is not surprising since 71%

indicated on Question 6 that they have difficulty scheduling time to teach a

variety of percussion instruments.

Results for Question 24

The twenty-fourth question is “Do any of your beginning percussionists

take lessons outside of school? Select all that apply.”

Table 24. Percussionists That Take Lessons Outside of School

Options Response Number Response Percent

Yes, with me. 3 9.7%
Yes, with another teacher in the band 1 3.2%
program or school district.
Yes, at a music store. 5 16.1%
Yes, at a private studio. 4 12.9%
No. 20 64.5%

Almost two-thirds of the students do not take private lessons. Of those

who do, about ten percent take lessons with their band teacher. The other

twenty-five percent study with someone else.

Results for Question 25

The twenty-fifth question is “Do you regularly schedule individual lessons

or small group lesson for beginning band outside of class? Select all that apply.”

58
Table 25. Directors That Regularly Schedule Lessons Outside of Class

Options Response Number Response Percent

Yes, during study hall. 0 0%
Yes, before or after school. 4 12.5%
Yes, but pulled out of other classes. 0 0%
Very rarely or never. 28 87.5%

Clearly the vast majority of percussion students do not meet outside of

scheduled class time.

Results for Question 26

The twenty-sixth question is “Are these lessons voluntary?” This is not a

required question and only received twenty responses. The assumption is that

the answers on this question were from the respondents whose students had

some kind of instruction outside of regular class time as indicated in questions 24

and 25. This question may not have been clear to all respondents.

Table 26. Number and Percentage of Voluntary Lessons

Total Yes %Yes No % No Blank % Blank

Responses

20 15 75% 5 25% 0 0%

Three-fourth of the respondents to question twenty-six give voluntary

lessons. It can be assumed the remaining twenty-five percent have lessons that

are compulsory or do not offer lessons whatsoever.

59
 Results for Question 27

The twenty-seventh question is “Briefly describe how you incorporate the

percussion section into a lesson with the entire band.” This is a short answer

question as respondents was required to write their own answers.

Table 27. How Directors Incorporate the Percussion Section in a Full

Band Lesson.

I would have the full group play the exercise, then have each section play the
exercise. Since the snare lines were typically different, I would often have the
snares accompany the other sections.

During our run of scales (G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db in quarter/eighth pattern)
with the winds, the percussionists play rudiments designed to fit into the scale
pattern. (that's just one instance)

They play their part in the book

Follow the lesson plans in the teacher resource book. If the lesson is wind
specific, the percussionist have time to go into our practice rooms to work on
rudiments/review keyboard exercises.

The same way as I do with each instrument.

I use the method book lines as a means to learn and practice percussion
techniques while the wind players play the corresponding lines of music.

I have other students do homework, while I work with each section

Play same exercises as other instruments

They cover mallet and drum parts in the book

In an outside rehearsal, we include perc when prepping for a concert.

They participate just like any other student.

As set forth by the text

60
We follow the lesson progression in the method book.

Keyboard percussion is during regular class time. Snare is after school

It ain't easy - individual assignments in graduated instructional management

system

Keyboard is easy in that they are playing along the same lines on melody
parts. Their warm-up is slightly different in that we work on scales and
sticking exercises while woodwinds wait.

They stand next to the flute and play bells until November. I switch them to
pad in November and teach both bells/snare for the rest of the school year.
They are in my woodwinds class. I do not have the time to have them meet
on their own in the schedule.

Focus on any new material for any instrument, then apply that with the whole
band exercises.

Only after all sections are combined on full band music

The percussion section learns notes on their keyboard instruments as the wind
players do.

I treat them just like any other instrument section in the band. If they have
special instructions or something different I spend time on it with them.

We only incorporate percussion with winds when preparing for a combined

performance and after groups have prepared individual parts already.

All students learn theory and we work on rhythms as a group

We have all like instrument classes. We then meet before school to pull all the
students together to prepare for a concert.

I have them count their part/say the sticking while everyone else counts/says
their note names, as well as by section.

I like having them in brass because they help them with pitches. When we play
from the book, everyone plays together. When I work with individuals or
sections, all others have something else to do, per my instruction (go through
fingers, sizzle rhythms, etc.).

We discuss many unison rhythms and notes

61
 Many times start mallets, or modify snare for more technical rhythms

We stuck to the book for the most part. They played their parts in the book.

Using the method book, we use the instruction provided.

Slowly work them into regular group

There are no unexpected answers in this section. Most of them have their

students play along with the rest of the group, with some playing drums and

some playing mallets.

Results for Question 28

The twenty-eighth question is “Is instruction available during the

summer?”

Table 28. Directors Who Make Instruction Available During Summer

Options Response Number Response Percent

No 18 62.1%
Yes, as voluntary scheduled classes 2 6.9%
Yes, for lessons 3 10.3%
Compensated by School 2 6.9%
Paid for by individual students 6 20.7%
Other 2 6.9%

This was not a required question and only received twenty-nine responses

out of thirty-one total who completed the survey. Only two directors were

compensated by the school for voluntary scheduled classes.

62
 There were two who selected “Other.” Their responses were “No, if the

student seeks out a teacher” and “1 week band camp.”

Results for Question 29

The twenty-ninth question is “What is your primary applied instrument

family?”

Table 29. Primary Applied Instrument Family of Surveyed Directors

Instrument Family Response Number Response Percent

Woodwind 8 25.8%
Brass 19 61.3%
Percussion 4 12.9%

The majority of respondents play an instrument other than percussion.

Only four, or 12.9%, are percussionists. Only one of those four said they have

difficulty scheduling time for teaching percussion instruments. Another starts

their beginning percussionists on a woodwind or brass instrument. None of the

directors who are percussionists meet outside of class time for rehearsal or

group lessons.

Below is a list of how the four percussionist directors incorporate the

percussion section into a lesson:

 The percussion section learns notes on their keyboard instruments as the

wind players do.
 All students learn theory and we work on rhythms as a group
 We have all like instrument classes. We then meet before school to pull
all the students together to prepare for a concert.
 Many times start mallets, or modify snare for more technical rhythms.

63
 Results for Question 30

The thirtieth question is “If you are the primary private lesson instructor,

do you charge, or are lessons free, or are you compensated by your school

district?”

Table 30. Payment Options for Private Lessons

Options Response Number Response Percent

Charge 4 23.5%
Free 12 70.6%
Compensated by school district 1 5.9%

This was not a required question and received seventeen responses. Most

of the respondents, 70.6%, offer private lessons for free.

Results for Question 31

The thirty-first question is “If applicable, when do you give lessons? Check

all that apply.”

Table 31. Times that Directors Give Lessons

Options Response Number Response Percent

Before school 2 11.8%
During school 1 5.9%
After school 16 94.1%
Evenings 1 5.9%
Weekends 0 0%

64
 This question was not required and only received seventeen responses. It

is not surprising that of the seventeen responses ninety-four percent of the

directors give lessons after school. Many directors have marching band practice

that meets before school starts and are therefore unavailable for lessons at that

time. Another possibility is the director has a supervision duty in the hallway,

cafeteria, or parking lot before school.

Results for Question 32

The thirty-second question is “If you have any additional thoughts or

suggestions please include them here. Thank you again.”

Table 32. Additional Thoughts or Suggestions

Never start percussion - their parts are much too easy at the beginning which
makes them bored and causes behavioral issues. I wait until we hit the part of
the book where they are playing sixteenth notes with bounces and they are
challenged. My experience in the classroom comes from the Orange County
Schools in Orlando, FL

I'm happy to tell you via phone call (if you want)

To begin on snare drum, I currently require students to take 2 years of piano

lessons outside of school; they may already have had the lessons, or they may
begin lessons at the same time that they begin band. If they choose to not do
this, they may begin on keyboard percussion. However, it is becoming
increasingly difficult to start and maintain strong players.

I am a part time teacher. I teach 2 hours per day, four days a week. No Friday
instruction.

I am lucky enough to be in a very different teaching situation at this point.

Starting students how I did in the past is not an effective teaching method for
the playing demands of modern percussionists.

65
 This question was not required by all respondents and only received five

responses. It is in short answer format to give each respondent a chance to give

extra feedback that may not have been asked in the survey.

66
 CHAPTER IV

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary

The purpose of this study was to find the best methods for developing

students into total percussionists in beginning band programs with only one band

director on staff. A total percussionist is defined as one who is capable of playing

keyboard percussion, snare drum, timpani, and the accessory instruments. While

other students in the band program focus on one instrument, the beginning

percussionists are learning multiple instruments each with its own technique. A

questionnaire was developed to determine how band directors work with and

schedule beginning percussionists. All thirty-one respondents to the

questionnaire are currently the sole directors at the beginning level or have been

the sole director in the past.

It is clear from the results that there is a great variety among the

directors surveyed with respect to school size, size of beginning classes,

scheduling, when they start percussion, what percussion instruments they start

on, what year they start, and specialization of the teachers.

67
 Most of the respondents start percussion along with the other band

students on both snare drum and keyboard percussion in the sixth grade. About

four-fifths of the respondents do not meet with percussionists for rehearsals or

lessons outside of class time. Around two-thirds indicated that their

percussionists do not take lessons outside of school. Over half of them are able

to meet class daily and over half of them meet at least ninety minutes a week.

About 70 % of the directors have made requests for schedule changes; about

40% of those were successful. Many of the directors feel a need to have more

time for beginning band and especially percussion.

Conclusions

Interestingly, the larger schools started a smaller percentage of

percussionists than the smaller schools. That may be because it is generally not

recommended that percussion parts be doubled in concert band and because

you can get by with six or seven in most marching bands and because some

players on other instruments play percussion in the marching band.

Twenty-six of respondents, or 84% of the subjects in this study, start

percussion in beginning band.

Only eight respondents have a separate class for beginning percussion.

Almost two-thirds of directors start percussionists on both snare and keyboard

percussion. The remaining directors start percussion on a woodwind or brass

instrument.

68
 Forty-five percent of the respondents have a beginning band class that is

40-49 minutes long. Twenty-two percent of the respondents have a class length

of 20-30 minutes. Fifty-eight percent of the respondents meet five days a week.

Sixty-four percent of the respondents are on traditional scheduling, and 22

percent are on a rotating schedule.

Scheduling time for beginning band itself is a challenge for some

directors as 41 percent made scheduling requests and had their request

completely or partially accepted. Twenty-nine percent had their request denied,

and another 29 percent did not make a scheduling change request.

The most common method book used is Essential Elements.89 The second

most common method book is Standard of Excellence.90 Eighty percent of the

respondents do not use supplemental material for their percussion students.

Over half of the respondents have beginning band in sixth grade, with

thirty-five percent beginning in the fifth grade and only 6 percent beginning in

the seventh grade.

Opportunity to Learn Standards for Music Instruction, an MENC

publication, recommends that instrumental classes in elementary school meet

“at least two times per week for a total of at least ninety minutes.”91 Although

89
Rhoades.

90
Pearson.

91
Paul. R. Lehman. Opportunity to Learn: Standards for Music Instruction. (Reston, VA:
Music Educators National Conference,) 4.

69
the numbers are not exact, we can reasonably estimate that over two-thirds of

these programs meet the recommended 90 minutes or more per week.

Twenty-two of the teachers, or 71%, said they have difficulty scheduling

adequate time for percussionists. 80.6 percent of the respondents do not meet

with percussionists for rehearsals or lessons outside of class time. Also 64.5%

indicated that their percussionists do not take lessons outside of school. Of those

who do, about ten percent take lessons with their band teacher and the

remaining twenty-five percent with someone else. Three-fourths of the

respondents give voluntary lessons at available times, including summer.

Sixty-two percent do not offer lessons during the summer. Only two of

the directors who offer lessons during the summer were compensated by the

school district for voluntary scheduled classes. Of those directors who do give

private lessons 70.6 percent give private lessons for free. Not surprisingly 94

percent of the directors that give private lessons do so after school.

Of the thirty-one responses to the questionnaire only four directors were

percussionists. Sixty-one percent played a brass instrument and 25 percent

played a woodwind instrument.

Recommendations

Teachers who have trouble scheduling time to teach beginning

percussionists are encouraged to make a scheduling request to their

administrator. Based on the survey results 71% of the respondents made a

scheduling request with 59.9% of those requests being approved. For example, a
70
scheduling request may be to start beginning band a year earlier. Only two of

the respondents have beginning band in the seventh grade. If a schedule can be

worked out with their administration another year of instruction would be

beneficial for both the percussion section and the rest of the band. Even the 58.1

percent of respondents who have beginning band in sixth grade may benefit

from an additional year of instruction. Another option would be to create a

separate percussion class. Only a quarter of the respondents have a separate

class for beginning percussion. The option of using summer for band classes and

private lessons should be explored if the administration is willing to consider it.

Two-thirds of the respondents indicated their percussionists do not take

lessons outside of school. It would be beneficial for directors to recommend or

require percussion students to take private lessons with a percussionist who can

teach a variety of percussion instruments

The most common method book used among the respondents is Essential

Elements. This may not be the best choice for directors who want to start their

percussion students on both snare and keyboard percussion as the keyboard

percussion music is in a different part of the book from the snare music.92

Standard of Excellence, however, uses a two-page spread which has snare on

the left page and keyboard percussion is on the right page.93 If students are

92
Lautzenheiser, 11.

93
Pearson, 37.

71
switching instruments during a class period Standard of Excellence saves time

from unnecessary page turns.

Many bands often have too many percussionists. In order to limit the

number of percussion players in each section it may be useful to accept

percussionists who begin their skills on a brass or woodwind instrument. When

the student switches to percussion they will already know how to read music.

This may also limit the number of players in the percussion section to those

students who are serious enough to learn another instrument first. Some of the

respondents already use this method. One director verified their response by

saying, “I had percussionists instead of drummers who were capable of achieving

greatness immediately.”

If the director wants to start percussion in beginning band it is

recommended to give preference during the recruitment process to those

students who have a piano background, as recommended by Michael Dick.

Students with this prior experience will be expected to understand the layout of

keyboard percussion instruments, already have a sense of rhythm and pitch, and

can read music.

I would recommend a further study which evaluates the quality and

comprehensiveness of high school percussionists and compare those results with

the instruction percussionists receive at the beginning level.

72
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blades, James. Percussion Instruments and Their History. London: Faber and
Faber, 1984.
Boonshaft, Peter Loel. Teaching Music With Purpose. Galesville, MD: Meredith
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75
 APPENDIX

Survey of Band Directors

Teaching at the Beginning Level
 Survey of Band Directors Teaching at the Beginning Level

Thank you for completing this brief survey. I am working on a thesis at Pittsburg
State University on scheduling time for percussion instruction at the beginning
level. At this time, I am simply trying to identify teachers who are the sole
directors in a beginning program or who have been the sole director in the past.
Thanks again.

Any information that you provide, including names and school districts,
will be kept anonymous.

Micah Martin
Carl Junction R-1 School District
Assistant Band Director, Percussion Instructor
Graduate Student, Pittsburg State University

1. Are you the sole beginning band director in your school district or

building?

a. Yes _____

b. No _____

2. If you answered no to the previous question, have you served in the past

as the sole beginning band director in your school district or building?

a. Yes _____

b. No _____

If you answered no to questions 1 & 2, you do not need to

continue. If you wish to continue the survey you are welcome to

do so. If you were the sole director in the past, answer according

to what you did at that time.

3. What is the approximate size of your school district in grades 6-12?

a. 50-100

b. 101-200

c. 201-300

d. 301-400

e. 401-500

f. 501-600

g. 601-700

h. 701-800

i. Over 800

4. How many students start in beginning band on average?

________________________

5. How many percussionists do you start on average?

________________________

6. Did (or do) you have some difficulty trying to schedule adequate

instruction time for the variety of percussion instruments that needed to

be taught?

a. Yes _____

b. No _____
7. Do you teach other subjects besides band? Select all that apply.

a. Choir _____

b. Orchestra _____

c. Music Appreciation _____

d. Elementary General Music _____

e. Guitar Class _____

f. Other:___________________

8. What is your role in the band program at your school? Check all that are

appropriate

a. High School Director _____

Assistant _____

b. Middle School Director _____

Assistant _____

c. Elementary Director _____

Assistant _____

d. Other (specify) ____________________________

9. What method book do you use for beginning band?

__________________________

10. Do you use any supplemental books for percussion in beginning band?

a. Yes _____

b. No _____
11. If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, please list the

supplemental books you use for percussion in beginning band?

__________________________________________

12. What grade-level is beginning band?

a. 5th _____

b. 6th _____

c. 7th _____

d. Other ___________________

13. How long is your beginning band class time?

a. 20-30 minutes _____

b. 31-39 minutes _____

c. 40-49 minutes _____

d. 50+ minutes _____

14. How many days per week does beginning band meet?

a. 1____

b. 2____

c. 2 ½ ____ (alternating days)

d. 3 ____

e. 4____

f. 5____
15. Which scheduling style best describes your situation for beginning band:

a. Traditional Scheduling _____

b. Block Scheduling _____

c. Rotating Scheduling _____

d. Modular or Flex Scheduling _____

e. Other________________

16. Have you ever requested scheduling changes to help with beginning band

instruction?

a. Yes, and they accepted all or part of my request. _____

b. Yes, and they denied my request. _____

c. No _____

17. If part of your request was accepted, please explain.

____________________________________

18. Do you start students on percussion in beginning band?

a. Yes _____

b. No _____

19. If you answered “No” to the previous question, at what point do you start

percussionists?

a. Second Semester/later in the year of beginning band _____

b. Second year of band _____

c. Other___________________
20. Is there a separate class for percussion in beginning band?

a. Yes _____

b. No _____

21. On which instrument(s) do your beginning percussion start?

a. Snare drum/practice pad _____

b. Keyboard percussion _____

c. Alternate between snare/pad and keyboard percussion _____

d. Woodwind or brass instrument _____

22. If you chose “Woodwind or brass instrument” on the previous question,

choose the response that best describes your rationale for not starting on

percussion immediately. Select all that apply.

a. Makes beginning instruction more efficient. _____

b. Allows more selectivity for percussionists. _____

c. Allows easier control of numbers in percussion section. _____

d. Musicianship can be transferred effectively to percussion from other

instruments. _____

e. Other. ______________________
23. Do the beginning percussionists meet for lessons outside of class time?

a. Yes as a full section. _____

b. Yes as individual or small group lessons. _____

c. Both. _____

d. No. _____

24. Do any of your beginning percussionists take lessons outside of school?

Select all that apply.

a. Yes, with me. _____

b. Yes, with another teacher in the band program or school

district. _____

c. Yes, at a music store. _____

d. Yes, at a private studio. _____

e. No. _____

25. Do you regularly schedule individual or small group lessons for beginning

band outside of class? Select all that apply.

a. Yes, during study hall. _____

b. Yes, before or after school. _____

c. Yes, but students are pulled out of other classes. _____

d. Very rarely or never. _____

26. Are these lessons voluntary?

a. Yes ____

b. No ____
27. Briefly describe how you incorporate the percussion section into a lesson

with the entire beginning band.

___________________________________

28. Is instruction available during the summer?

a. No

b. Yes, as voluntary scheduled classes

c. Yes, for lessons

d. Compensated by the school

e. Paid for by individual students

f. Other

29. What is your primary applied instrument family?

a. Woodwind _____

b. Brass _____

c. Percussion _____

30. If you are the primary private lesson instructor, do you charge for

lessons?

a. Charge ________

b. Free _________

c. Compensated by school ________

31. If applicable, when do you give lessons. Check all that apply.

a. Before school _____

b. During school _____

c. After school _____

d. Evenings _____

e. Weekends ______

32. If you have any additional thoughts or suggestions, please include them

here. Thank you again.

________________________________

33. Contact Information:

a. Name_________________________________________

b. School Name___________________________________

c. School District__________________________________

d. Email _________________________________________