Sixty-Second Solos: Drum Book

Kennedy writes with a clear understanding of what middle and high school percussionists actually need: focused, musically rewarding solos that stay within reasonable time constraints for auditions and concerts. The inclusion of detailed performance notes for each piece transforms what could be routine exercises into genuine artistic opportunities, giving young performers tangible guidance on technique and interpretation. This collection reflects the real-world demands of a working percussionist who knows how to make short formats count.

These solos range across the percussion family, each designed to spotlight a particular sound or technique. The one-minute duration makes each piece feel immediate and purposeful, allowing performers to deliver genuine musical statements within a tight framework that rewards clarity and intention.

This book serves percussion students at the middle and high school level who are developing solo performance skills and building audition repertoire. It's equally valuable for directors seeking repertoire that introduces younger percussionists to focused, professional-level solo work without overwhelming them in scope or technical demand.

• Study the performance notes before playing through the piece; Kennedy addresses technique choices and musical intent that will shape your approach from the first read.
• Record yourself playing each solo and listen back critically, paying particular attention to how clearly the piece's character comes through in the time you have.
• Work with a coach or director on the specific techniques flagged in the notes; addressing them early prevents them from becoming obstacles during final preparation.
• Perform these solos for different audiences during the year—student recitals, assemblies, informal settings—to build comfort and discover new interpretive possibilities.

Include these solos on student recitals and ensemble concerts to showcase developing percussionists in focused settings, or use them as audition material for honors ensembles and summer programs. The variety of instrumentation across the collection allows you to program complementary solos back-to-back, creating a engaging percussion feature within a larger concert.

• Solo performance presence and phrasing over short time spans
• Technique-specific command across snare drum, mallets, timpani, and auxiliary percussion
• Musicality within structured, audition-ready repertoire
• Interpretation grounded in composer-provided pedagogical notes
• Confidence preparing pieces for public performance