TIMPASNOOZIE!

This post is about Timpani.  Many timpano make up timpani.

Yay Italian!

Set of 4 drums

32" D2-A2

29" F2-C3

26" Bb2-F3

23" D3-A3

SPECIALIZATION!!!!!  You can get a 20" if you are special. (F3-C4)

American Set Up like a piano!

Low on left

High on right

Europeans are weird and so they do everything backwards!

High on left

Low on right

Don't let your kids set it up like a set of marching tenor drums.

Set your configuration so that you can see the conductor over the space between the 29" and 26"

Stick trays are awesome!  You can put different sets of sticks on them!  Also a tuning fork!  Or a pitch pipe!

Stick Holds

1. German - Palms down...  like playing a snare drum.
2. French - Thumbs up... control sticks with finger movements 
3. American ('MURICA) - Thumbs up, but you control with your wrists.  We're basically Hannah Montana!  We get the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

Types of Mallets

Soft...

-for legato

HARD!

-For articulate

-Try using a harder mallet for softer dynamics to get the tone better.

-FOR LOUD PASSAGES USE A HEAVIER MALLET.  EVEN IT IS IS softer.  It needs to have a LONGER SHAFT!  BIGGER IS BETTER!  ('nuff said)

Swizzle Stick

-One side is a snare drum stick.  For quick transitions.

Playing Spot

1/3 of the way to the center

USE THE FIST technique

1) Place fist on drum

2) Play where you're knuckles are

3) Remove fist before playing

Make a finger field goal to determine how far apart your sticks should hit.

Tuning

Tune in 4ths and 5ths

Start with the lowest drum

Completely detune to lowest pitch

Hit once!

Tune up to desired pitch

Don't hit extra times to guess pitches

A TRICK!  Sing the pitch into the drum and it will reverberate back to you once it is in tune.

Muting

Hold stick with thumb and pointer finger, and mute the drum with the rest of your fingers.

To get clear attacks between pitches, mute one drum at the same time as you hit the next drum

Pedal Types

1. Balance Pedal
2. Ratchet Pedal
3. Friction Clutch

Head Replacement

1. Measure the diameter
2. Lower the pitch all the way and place a block under the toe of the pedal to keep it in place.
3. Unscrew ALL THE SCREWS
4. Remove the head
1. Take off old teflon tape
2. Replace it with new tape
3. Wipe out the inside of the drum
4. Grease the bottom threads of the screws
5. Put on new head
6. Tighten each screw one full turn
1. Make sure that the head is constantly centered
1. It will shift
2. Test the sound each time
3. Tighten until you get a tone that is a half step lower than the lowest tone on the drum
7. Use a drum dial to fine tune
8. Tune the middle and high notes
9. Double check the low note