Saul Goodman: Modern Method for Timpani

This book does what few method books manage: it functions simultaneously as a technical reference, a pedagogical roadmap, and a performance resource. The revision honors Goodman's original vision while incorporating decades of input from Kohloff and Werdesheim, two figures who themselves shaped professional timpani playing. A timpani student working through these 132 pages will develop not just exercises but a coherent philosophy of the instrument.

Working through Goodman feels methodical and purposeful. The fundamentals are unadorned; there's no pretense, just direct technical work that accumulates into genuine mastery. By the time you reach the repertoire section, your hands understand the instrument so thoroughly that the music itself becomes the focus rather than the mechanics.

This method serves serious timpani students working toward orchestral placement, band timpanists building secondary proficiency, and percussion teachers seeking a comprehensive, time tested framework for instruction. It also belongs in rehearsal studios where conductors and timpanists collaborate on professional repertoire.

• Work the fundamentals section sequentially rather than selectively. Each exercise builds on previous patterns and expands your physical vocabulary in logical increments.
• When transitioning between two and three drum technique, pay attention to how Goodman structures the progression of stick heights and intervals. This isn't random scaffolding; it mirrors how your hands learn spatial relationships.
• Reference the repertoire section not just as etudes but as windows into actual orchestral writing. Notice which compositional gestures recur across different pieces.
• Record yourself moving through the technical work. Goodman's methods emphasize consistency and control, and audio playback reveals tension patterns or rhythmic drift that your hands don't always feel.

Deploy this as the cornerstone text for any percussion student with serious timpani aspirations; pair it with orchestral excerpts at the level your ensemble is tackling. Conductors programming timpani solos or exposed passages benefit from having section members work through Goodman's repertoire selections, which train the specific control and tonality orchestral writing demands.

• Grip and stroke technique on two, three, and four drums
• Interval recognition and stick placement across drum spacing
• Dynamic control and tone production across the dynamic spectrum
• Roll execution and clarity at varying speeds
• Rhythmic precision in mixed meters and complex subdivisions
• Pedal technique and tuning accuracy
• Orchestral articulation and style interpretation