Sound Percussion Overview
Dave Black, one of the best-selling percussion authors in the world, has teamed up with composer, clinician, and instrumental music teacher Chris Bernotas to write Sound Percussion for Individual or Group Instruction, a complete and comprehensive resource for teaching intermediate to advanced percussion students. Lessons are presented in a fun and interesting way so that all members of the percussion section are engaged.
Browse the Brochure
Instrument Books
This resource is comprised of four books plus a Teacher’s Score: Snare Drum / Bass Drum • Mallet Percussion • Timpani • Accessory Instruments. Each book can be used independently to focus on a particular instrument or in any combination as a full percussion ensemble.
Perfect for Non-Percussion Specialist Teachers
Sound Percussion is perfect for the director who is a non-percussion specialist as it provides a clear progression of notes, rhythms, and skills. In addition to the teacher-focused Sound Advice sections provided for many of the exercises, Sound Percussion will help build confidence in teachers and support their delivery of meaningful and appropriate content for their percussion students.
Intermediate or Beginner
This series is considered intermediate because, while it starts with the basic fundamentals of notation, the instruments, and grips, students are quickly introduced to intermediate-level skills. As soon as students begin playing independent rhythms in Sound Combination exercises, they have made it to the intermediate level!
Book Organization
Sound Percussion features clean and uncluttered page layouts so students can easily locate goals and new concepts. It contains six sections covering everything from setting up the instruments to percussion ensemble performance. Sections include:
- Sound Rhythm
- Sound Meter
- Sound Rudiments
- Sound Rolls
- Sound Effects
- Sound Performance
Skill Chart
Click on the skill chart excerpt below to view the full chart and review the order that concepts are introduced.
Backward-by-Design Skill Introduction
The progression of rhythms, skills and note introduction, as well as the pacing of each, has been carefully considered to promote true comprehension and development. Skills are introduced with a backward-by-design approach. Learning goals are first identified, and then exercises are logically designed with obtainable steps that lead students toward achieving that goal. This is particularly helpful for mallet note recognition and snare drum rolls.
Systematic Reinforcement
Sound Concepts introduce the concept/skill in unison (when appropriate.) Sound Reinforcement exercises follow with the addition of dynamics and accents still in unison. Then Sound Combinations focus on performance skills with more independent parts. Each skill or concept is systematically introduced and exercises are designed to reinforce and lead students to be able to accurately perform with confidence.
Mallet Note Introduction
Mallet note reading and performance are approached in a unique way that won't overwhelm students with too much, too soon. Students will be introduced to 2–3 notes at a time using interesting rhythm patterns to build their confidence and increase retension.
Practice Resources on SI Online
Every book includes free access to SI Online, a robust platform for all Sound Innovations supplemental worksheets, practice tracks, Masterclass instructional videos, and more—all available with no login required. Accompaniment tracks can be slowed down, sped up, and looped for difficult sections. Sound Percussion's comprehensive videos help demonstrate techniques, allowing for better comprehension and fostering at-home practice.
Videos include:
- Sound combinations with full percussion ensemble
- Sound combinations with only mallets and timpani in order to build independence
- Roll demonstrations including how to perform buzz rolls and open rolls, as well as applying duple and triplet rolls to make the most musical sound
- Four mallet grip and demonstration
- Sound effects instruction and demonstrations
- Rolls on timpani, cymbals, bass drum, and other accessory percussion instruments
- Full recordings of “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and “Engage”—an original percussion ensemble piece
MasterClass teachers: Caleb Conner, Amy Ksandr, and Wesley Sumpter.
Additional exercises and worksheets are available to help reinforce note reading and other concepts used in modern percussion music. To access the resources, simply go to SIOnline.alfred.com and follow the prompts to enter the book's item #. Once you’ve activated a book, you can now navigate through all of the relevant materials for that book, enhancing your students musical journey both in class and at home.
MakeMusic Cloud
Sound Percussion is available for teaching and practice purposes in MakeMusic Cloud (SmartMusic)! Students can play along with professional accompaniments and receive real-time feedback in the form of red, green, or yellow notes. Teachers can monitor student progress through custom assignments and practice analytics.
Sound Percussion Ensembles
Arrangements and Original Selections in a Variety of Styles
Sound Percussion Ensembles contains 11 arrangements and two original pieces at the intermediate level designed to give your percussion students a valuable group performance experience. It synthesizes skills taught in Sound Percussion and can be used as a supplement to any percussion method, or independently as stand-alone performance music.