Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1970

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

Teaching the total percussion class in the junior high school is an entirel,y new concept. Total percussion is currently being taught in colleges and some of the larger high schools throughout the n tion. The total percussion class in the junior high school has no text or guide for the pupil or the teacher. Th author of this paper endeavors to present a text for the junior high school instrumental music teacher. The content have been tried during the last six years by the author and proven successful Student in many percussion classes have been taught to specialize on only one instrument. In many cases the teacher has found that specialization on snare drum or bass drum is a handicap when the student is asked to perform music written for other percussion instruments. The total percussion classes are usually composed of students who have the desire to become proficient on more th one percussion instrument. The instrumental music teacher should attempt to select students with a background in piano or some other melodic instrument, and enlist students with good physical coordination. A major criteria in the selection of a text for the total percussion class is the inclusion of basic fundamentals on all of the percussion instruments: bells, marimba, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals and tympani. Starting with the rote to note method, the teacher should lead the class into the fundamental stick positions, rhythmic counting, dynamics, and other basic problems of percussion instruments. At the end of the first year of study the students should be introduced to more advanced percussion such as trap sets and multi-percussion solos and ensembles. More complex rhythmic patterns are presented to the class in addition to an expanded repertoire. Musical independence and leadership is encouraged and critical observations of other students' performance as well as self criticism is developed. The total percussion class in the public schools is very new. More and more instrumental music teachers and band directors are arriving at the conclusion that the only solution to the demands of the contemporary composers on percussionists is the total percussion class. The author found that a text for the total percussion class for junior high school students was not available. It was with this thought that the author endeavored to write a text for junior high school instrumental music teachers who mi ght be interested in teaching a total percussion class.

Extent

68 p.

Comments

College of Education|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1970.|College of Education

Identifier

FA00000628

Format

pdf

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