Pedal Technique for the Timpani: Timpani Book

Leonard writes from the perspective of someone who has sat in principal chairs and knows exactly where intermediate players get stuck. This book zeros in on pedal technique with the clarity and focus that only comes from years of professional performance, making it far more useful than generic percussion method books.

Focused and methodical. Leonard respects your time and doesn't pad the material with filler. Every exercise exists to solve a specific technical problem, which means practicing from this book feels purposeful rather than repetitive.

Intermediate timpani players ready to move beyond basic striking into the more nuanced world of pedal control. If your students have solid mallet technique but haven't yet developed independent foot work, this book gives you a structured path forward.

• Isolate single pedal strokes at slow tempos before adding stickwork. Lock in the foot motion independently so your hands can focus on tone and control.
• Record yourself executing the exercises and listen back for evenness. Your ears will catch inconsistencies in pedal timing that feel invisible in real time.
• Work through the material on all four drums rather than staying comfortable on just one head. Each drum responds slightly differently, and that variation strengthens your adaptability.
• Layer the pedal technique over rolls and rudiments progressively. Don't treat foot and hand work as separate problems; integrate them as Leonard intends.

Use this as your primary pedal technique resource during sectional rehearsals or private lessons with intermediate players. It works well alongside standard orchestra repertoire, building the foundational control needed to execute the pedal work that composers like Bartok and Stravinsky demand.

• Independent foot control while maintaining consistent mallet work
• Tuning changes synchronized with musical phrasing
• Glissando execution and control
• Pedal timing precision at varying tempos
• Multi-drum coordination with dynamic foot control