Modern School for Snare Drum: Snare Drum Book

This book remains unmatched as a comprehensive bridge between basic snare drum fundamentals and the demands of orchestral playing. The inclusion of authentic excerpts from the standard repertoire means students work toward repertoire they'll actually perform, not hypothetical exercises. Cirone's editing adds modern clarity to the presentation while preserving Goldenberg's original insight about what matters.

The book balances disciplined technical work with the genuine musical challenges you encounter in pieces by Stravinsky, Ravel, and Bartók. Moving from studies into actual orchestral excerpts creates a satisfying sense of progression, as abstract problems suddenly connect to real music you recognize.

Orchestral percussionists preparing for university auditions or professional ensemble work will find this indispensable. Advanced high school snare drummers and anyone transitioning from rudimental or marching drum contexts into concert settings should work through it systematically.

• Study the stickings provided, but use them as starting points rather than absolutes. Experiment with hand combinations that feel natural to your grip and wrist mechanics, then compare your choices against what Goldenberg suggests.
• Work through the orchestral excerpts in small sections, focusing on phrasing as a drummer rather than treating them as pure technical challenges. Ask yourself where the melody lives and how your part serves it.
• Record yourself on the more demanding etudes. You'll hear rhythmic inconsistencies and tonal variations that feel fine in real time but sound uneven on playback.
• Approach the book sequentially rather than jumping to excerpts that interest you. The early studies build specific muscular habits that make the advanced material accessible.

Assign sections of this book to percussionists preparing for orchestra auditions or ensemble placements. If you're programming a work that features significant snare drum writing, pull the relevant excerpt from this book a few weeks before rehearsals begin so players arrive with informed preparation.

• Single and double stroke roll endurance and control
• Reading and executing complex rhythmic patterns with precise articulation
• Understanding sticking choices and how they affect tone and phrasing
• Interpreting orchestral snare drum parts from standard repertoire
• Applying proper grip, posture, and stick technique under performance conditions
• Distinguishing between rudimental playing and concert orchestral snare technique