I played a concert this season with a professional orchestra with very fine players in all of the sections. Even though my musician colleagues were very experienced musicians on their own instruments I wasn’t too surprised when a ‘cello player that I know came up to me when I was practicing before the rehearsal started […]
How to Play Timpani Rolls on Low and High Notes
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There are several factors that have to be kept in mind when trying to produce a nice timpani roll and one of the most important is that your roll speed needs to change if you are playing low notes or high notes. The rule of thumb to follow is that rolls on higher notes and […]
How to Hold the Timpani Mallets
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A firm relaxed grip that allows for the wrist to move freely is what makes a good timpani mallet grip. I play with what is generally referred to as the French Grip or really the American Grip. The profile of this grip is that the palms of your hands face each other and that your […]
How to Develop Your Timpani Stroke
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Getting a good sound from timpani requires the player to not only play the drum on the correct playing spot but to also have the proper striking technique with the mallet. Remember; the best playing spot on the timpano is about 3 inches from the rim of the drum and directly in front of the […]
How to Dampen Timpani When You Play
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It is necessary to dampen the sound of the timpani at the end of a piece or because of a rest. The length of the note that you play is determined by when you dampen. For example, if the note written in the music is a half note (two beats in length) you dampen or […]
