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Writing for Winter Percussion
Over the last decade working with Homestead Percussion in Cupertino, California, director and music arranger Dave Sankus and I have ... -
All in the Approach
Want to be successful at playing your instrument? It starts with how you approach it. The “approach” to a drum ... -
Looking Professional for Your Indoor Drumline Performance
We’re only a month or two away from early season winter percussion performances! Here are a few tips to help ... -
The Evolution of Drumline
For this issue’s column, I’m presenting a smorgasbord of awesome observations that show the continued evolution of our great sport. ... -
Swiss Army Triplets
Swiss Army Triplets are always fun to play. For one thing, they probably have the coolest name of all the ... -
Flame Taps
Flam taps are a favorite rudiment of mine. They involve the use of rebound, making them ideal for fast passages, ... -
Visual Preparation
The visual portion of winter percussion has undergone significant change the last several years. To get a sense for how ... -
Paradiddle Paradise
If paradiddles were a food group, they would be the vegetables. Maybe fruit too. Plus the meat and the carbs. ... -
Private Lessons
Regardless of your percussion goals or ambitions, consider taking private lessons. No amount of ensemble rehearsal or home practice can ... -
Rest Up
This month I didn’t want to stress the great rudiments you play, but rather the things you don’t play … ... -
Fall Wrap-Up
For most people reading this column, the marching band season has either just ended or will be ending shortly. Therefore, ... -
Auditioning for Indoor
This month I sat down with Kyle Wong, a snare player who won a WGI Gold Medal in 2014 with ... -
Parade Prep
There are few types of activities in the marching world more polarizing than parades. Some people view them as distractions ... -
Summer Learning
Last summer at the high school I teach, we undertook a rather daunting and aggressive plan to raise our skill ... -
Take It Off the Left
Most of us drummers are way more comfortable with our right hands than our left hands. So it is no ... -
On Performing Solos
Learn about creating and performing percussion solos. From Halftime Magazine, a print publication and website for the marching arts including ... -
Going to New Heights
Playing accurate, well-defined heights is a huge part of a successful drumline for uniformity in sound volume as well as ... -
Snare Tuning
Snare tuning is important for every performance. Percussion coordinator Lane Armey sits down with 1999 Santa Clara Vanguard Snare I&E ... -
Dealing with Personnel Changes
Most of us that are part of a marching percussion ensemble will experience a staff change during our four years ... -
Overcome Freshmen Challenges
Learn how to overcome freshmen challenges with percussion instructor Lane Armey. From Halftime Magazine, a print publication and website for ... -
Wanna Teach?
A lot of young percussionists aspire to teach drumlines. This article touches on a few considerations that can help set ... -
Being an Athlete
Today’s marching percussionist requires an awful lot of strength, agility and stamina to be successful. But if everyone knows how ... -
WGI Finals Debut
On its first trip to WGI World Championships, Homestead High School became a world-class finalist. Find out about all the ... -
Commit Yourself and Go for It
For drumming, as with most things in life, you really have to “go for it” to achieve success. This mantra ... -
Memorizing Music
Memorizing music is key for most all marching musicians, but it is particularly important in marching percussion. And as drum ... -
The Little Stuff
Paying attention to details can vastly improve your drumline. Find out how to work on attacks and releases, buzz rolls ... -
Taking It Slowly
Percussion tips from Lane Armey. Drumming slowly is absolutely essential to drumming well at faster tempos. From Halftime Magazine, a ... -
Improving Musicality for Percussion
Musician/Drummer. Do you consider yourself both? Often thought of as opposites, it is more important than ever that you and ... -
Performance Prowess
In the indoor percussion season, non-drumming performance qualities are often just as important as your drumming qualities. In other words, ... -
Working Hard
One of the most useful things I’ve been told from my teachers is that if you are going to do ...