Percussion Books

Relating Sound & Time Musicians of any skill level will benefit from the concepts and rhythm principles presented in these pages. Exploring the possibilities of theory and practice has heightened my musical sensibilities in profound ways. It is my hope that this sharing of perspectives will expand the reader's creative imagination and awareness about some of the world's great music. PDF $20.00	African Bell Ritual This book of cross-rhythm and independence rituals is the result of over 20 years of researching and teaching African music. It expands upon rhythm principles from my most recent text on African and India rhythm theory (Relating Sound & Time); ideas which are now presented in a more concrete structure and progression. Any musician (or composer) could benefit from the underlying principles and patterns that result within the various rituals presented. PDF $6.00	Master Drummers of West Africa The material presented in this text is based directly on field research conducted in West Africa while under the guidance of three Master Drummers. Musical examples are introduced in the same private lesson format as they were learned in Africa—an approach which should allow you to move quickly through style and variation with some background information provided along the way. PDF $13.00	Drum Set Adaptations of North Indian Tabla Drum Set Adaptations of North Indian Tabla will open new doors for the pioneering drummer/percussionist. This unique book presents over 100 tabla compositions which have been adapted to the western drum set. These tabla adaptations serve as a foundation for the experimenting percussionist to explore rhythm and variation using different concepts and interpretations. PDF $6.00

Volume I: Afro-American Aspects Volume I offers numerous sophisticated rhythmic examples for percussionist and drummer alike. It introduces over 30 ethnic and contemporary instruments, over 100 detailed photographs of conga technique, with many rhythmic examples and ideas for application. Also presented are over 56 traditional African and Latin American ensemble conga rhythms with dozens of adaptations to drum set. Volume I examines the drum set within several western idioms which directly or indirectly evolved with ethnic influences. This volume provides an important link between the drummer and percussionist. PDF $13.00	Volume II: Indian Influence (Tabla Perspectives) Indian Influence presents many carefully examined insights, concepts and philosophies into the critical aspects for playing north Indian tabla. It includes thorough explanations of tabla technique, concepts of rhythmic cycles and playing speeds, plus performing repertoire within 6 popular rhythmic cycles. Over 200 photographs on tabla technique, tabla history and traditional & contemporary applications, which will illuminate students on how to play tabla. Designed as a detailed teaching tool, this tabla book unfolds in parallel motion with the evolution of technique and theoretical understanding of tabla performance. PDF $15.00	Volume III: Mallets, Meters & Multiple Percussion Volume III examines percussion instruments and repertoire, metric concepts, and multiple percussion designs present within traditional and contemporary classical music. It includes an understanding and performance of various mallet instruments from timpani and bass drum, to xylophone, marimba and orchestra bells. It examines metric concepts including odd meters, changing meters, metric modulation, rhythmic phasing, polymeters and polyrhythms. Explore percussion set-ups designed by traditional and 20th-century composers with techniques and concepts of percussion notation and performance. Learn about designing and performing a multiple percussion set-up. It concludes with ideas for combining categories of instruments from different cultures. PDF $13.00	Clave The traditional wooden clave, which we associate with Afro-Cuban music, is actually derived from the African concussion sticks and clappers of centuries past. Much like the role for the bell player within traditional African music, the clave's function is that of a time keeper, back-bone and foundation for traditional rhythms with which it is used. The clave rarely incorporates variations within a given performance. This helps to develop player discipline as one is called upon to play an essential, unchanging clave pattern for the duration of the performance. This book, although brief, begins to answer many questions about the diverse history and use of clave, from its early beginnings in African and Egyptian cultures to the popular and more familiar Cuban clave of Afro-Latin music. PDF $5.00