The Best of Shorties, Volume 2: Auxiliary Percussion Book

López selected 18 charts that balance instant recognition with genuine fun to play. The auxiliary percussion writing is conversational and supportive rather than decorative, giving percussionists real musical responsibility while keeping focus on the ensemble's overall drive and energy.

These arrangements celebrate the joy of playing recognizable music. Whether you're locking into the syncopation of 'Conga' or driving the momentum of 'We Are Family,' the writing lets you feel part of something immediate and alive.

This book serves percussion sections in marching bands, pep bands, and auxiliary percussion ensembles at the Grade 2.5-3 level. Directors programming short, high-impact sets will find versatile charts that appeal to student musicians and crowds alike.

• Lock the cymbal crashes and bass drum hits with the snare line; precision here makes the whole ensemble sound sharper and more cohesive.
• Use space and rests as actively as you use the written notes. Pulling back during sectional breaks lets the horns breathe.
• Balance four-mallet work in charts like 'Jungle Boogie' and 'Conga' by letting your wrist relax; fight the urge to musclebound your way through.
• Experiment with mallet choice across this collection. Softer mallets on vibraphone parts in 'Sing, Sing, Sing' will blend differently than on the funk grooves.

Build a pep band set or halftime show opener by threading 2-3 of these charts together; their concise length and varied instrumentation make them ideal for rotations. You can also spot them into concert settings as energizing transitions or encore pieces without extensive setup or rehearsal time.

• Reading percussion notation across multiple staves and clefs
• Executing rhythmic precision in syncopated and funk-based grooves
• Balancing dynamic levels between keyboard and pitched percussion
• Coordinating cymbal and bass drum articulation with ensemble attacks
• Adapting mallet technique and tone for different musical styles within a single rehearsal