Accent on Achievement, Book 2: Mallet Percussion & Timpani Book & Online Audio/Software

Mallet percussionists and timpani players finally get the same carefully sequenced, musically engaging instruction as their wind and brass peers. The integration of world music and classical literature keeps these essential players invested in their parts, not sidelined with exercises.

A refreshing departure from isolated percussion warm-ups, this method places mallet and timpani parts within genuine musical contexts. Students encounter world music, classical arrangements, and full band scoring that reveal why their parts matter.

Mallet percussionists and timpani players in grades 5-8 who are progressing through a comprehensive band curriculum. This book gives them repertoire-based instruction that matches the pedagogical pacing of their section peers while building the technical foundation required for independent, musically intelligent playing.

• Balance mallet selection early: experiment with yarn and hard mallets during the warm-up exercises to develop an ear for tone color before moving into full band arrangements.
• Lock rhythm section foundation during full band pieces by establishing steady ensemble pulse with timpani before adding mallet percussion layers.
• Isolate the rhythmic and rest exercises in isolation before band rehearsal; these target the specific coordination demands that challenge developing percussionists.
• Use the online audio to hear how your part sits in context with the full band, especially valuable for students learning to play without constant conductor cueing.

Deploy Book 2 as the foundation for your second-year percussionists during the same calendar year your wind section advances through their Book 2 material. The synchronized curriculum ensures the entire band progresses together, and the 11 full band arrangements provide rehearsal-ready repertoire that features percussion parts meaningfully.

• Mallet selection and tone control across yarn and hard mallets
• Reading and executing rhythmic patterns in multiple time signatures
• Coordinating both hands independently (necessary for timpani and two-mallet keyboard work)
• Understanding rest values and their role in ensemble texture
• Sight-reading within full band context
• Performing classical and world music literature from written scores
• Maintaining steady pulse and supporting ensemble tempo