Sound Percussion: An Intermediate Method for Individual or Group Instruction: Timpani Book & Online Media

Black and Bernotas understand that timpani students need more than isolated exercises; they need a methodical path from fundamental setup and tone production through ensemble performance. The backward-by-design approach means every concept builds logically toward a clear musical goal, which keeps students motivated and prevents the frustration of abstract drills. You'll appreciate how the book's flexible structure lets you address your specific ensemble's needs without feeling locked into a rigid sequence.

Clear and purposeful. Every page has a specific job, whether teaching you how to set up your instrument, count complex meters, or execute a crisp roll. You move through concepts in a way that feels achievable rather than overwhelming, with each new skill sitting on a solid foundation laid by earlier sections.

Timpani students learning at intermediate levels, whether in private lessons or group percussion classes. The method serves both beginners progressing into more sophisticated material and established players who need systematic guidance through roll technique, mallet control, and ensemble readiness.

• Establish consistent mallet grip and striking position early by returning to Sound Preparation sections whenever technique slides. Students who develop sloppy striking habits in the opening pages will fight those patterns through the entire method.
• Use the Online Media accompaniments to contextualize rhythm and meter work within actual musical settings rather than isolated counting exercises. Hearing how a 3/4 passage sits against harmonic support makes the concept stick.
• Work through Sound Rolls with patient repetition and a metronome; roll evenness is a fundamental timpani skill that directly transfers to ensemble sound quality and will pay dividends when students play in larger groups.
• Reference the Sound Effects section when ensemble repertoire calls for non-traditional percussion techniques or special sounds; this grounds those requests in systematic practice rather than last-minute scrambling.

Use this as your primary timpani resource for intermediate band and orchestra programs, working through it progressively in individual lessons or assigning sections that align with current ensemble repertoire. When your band is performing a piece with complex rhythmic or meter changes, pull the relevant Sound Rhythm or Sound Meter section to build specific skills before sectionals.

• Proper timpani setup, mallet selection, and striking technique
• Reading timpani clef and ledger line notation
• Fundamental snare drum rudiments and their application to timpani
• Roll technique with control over speed, dynamics, and evenness
• Sight-reading in multiple meters and complex rhythm patterns
• Timpani-specific effects and unconventional techniques
• Ensemble balance, listening, and collaboration in percussion sections