The Best of Big and Easy, Volume 2: Snare Drum Book

This collection gives your snare drummer substantive material across 15 recognizable tunes without requiring a full ensemble rehearsal budget. The range of musical styles means your percussionist stays engaged throughout, and the Grade 2 level keeps the focus on musicality rather than technical struggle.

Propulsive and fun. These are tunes people recognize and enjoy hearing, arranged with straightforward rhythmic clarity and plenty of groove. You'll feel the difference between funk, swing, and straight rock as you work through the collection.

Snare drummers in marching bands and wind ensembles who need solid repertoire at an accessible level. This book works equally well for students building fundamental musicianship and for established players who want to explore genre variety without excessive technical demands.

• Balance articulation clarity with the groove: these tunes thrive when you lock into the pocket rather than playing every note with equal weight.
• Listen closely to how the bass drum and kick drum sit in the full arrangement; your snare drum part becomes more musical when you hear the harmonic context.
• Vary your dynamic approach across tunes. Funkytown and Jump need driving energy, while Sleigh Ride and Blues in the Night call for restraint and space.

Slot individual tunes into concert programs when you need reliable fill-in material or want to feature your percussion section without extensive rehearsal overhead. The mix of styles means you can program several of these back-to-back and create a cohesive set, or space them throughout the year as rehearsal-light options.

• Reading and executing rhythms across multiple genre styles (funk, swing, pop, march)
• Articulation control and dynamic shaping within a groove-based context
• Listening to bass drum and kick drum patterns to lock into ensemble pocket
• Stamina and consistency across 16 pages of accessible but varied material