Percussion Lessons in Denver
Colorado Honor Band offers drum and percussion lessons in Denver, Westminster, Thornton, Centennial, and Littleton. Our after school music program provides weekly one-on-one coaching and band classes, seasonal public performances, a yearly summer camp, and national and international travel opportunities.
Percussion General Information
The percussion section solidifies the time and rhythm of the ensemble. What many people don’t realize is that the percussion section also adds color and interest to the groups sound. Not only do percussionists play drums, they play cymbals, bass drum, congas, toms, bells, and triangle. The list goes on and on. Anything that is played by striking it is a percussion instrument.
Examples of Pitched Percussion Instruments
Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Xylophone, Marimba, Chimes, Crotales, Steel Pan, Timpani, Almglocken
Examples of Non-Pitched Percussion Instruments
Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Concert Toms, Djembe, Cajón, Congas, Bongos, Tambourine, Triangle, Tam tam, Suspended Cymbal, Woodblock, Hand Cymbals, Claves, Guiro, Tambourine, Shakers
Famous Percussionists & Suggested Recordings
- Keiko Abe, Marimba Spiritual
- Evelyn Glennie, Light in Darkness
- Roy Haynes, Milestones
- Elvin Jones, A Love Supreme
- Buddy Rich, Swingin’
- Emil Richards, Journey Richards to Bliss
- Leigh Howard Stevens, Marimba When
Percussion Repertoire
Two Mallet Keyboard Solos
- Suites for Unaccompanied Cello Marimba, by J.S. Bach
- Anasazi Marimba, Vibes, Xylophone, by Alice Gomez
Four Mallet Keyboard Solos
- A Little Prayer Marimba, by Evelyn Glennie
- Crystal Mallet Vibes, by Art Lipner
- Monograph IV Marimba (low A), by Richard Gipson
Multi Percussion Solos
- French Suite, by William Kraft
- Inspirations Diabolique, by Rickey Tagawa
Snare Solos
- The Noble Snare (4 volumes), by Stuart Saunders Smith
- Recital Solos for Snare Drum, by Garwood Whaley
Timpani Solos
- The Solo Timpanist, by Vic Firth
- 32 Solos for Timpani, by Alexander Lepak