From Setup to Sound: Musicality in Multiple Percussion
- Nathan Coles
- May 7
- 5 min read
How to Choose, Set Up, and Practice Multiple Percussion
When you step behind a multiple percussion setup, you’re not just a performer—you’re a composer, orchestrator, and designer all at once. Each piece of your setup is a choice, each transition a challenge, and each sound an opportunity to express something unique. For student percussionists, this world can feel overwhelming at first—but it’s also one of the most creative and rewarding areas of our art form. In this post, we’ll dive into the essential musical concepts that define successful multiple percussion playing, guided by professional insights from Ryan Lewis. Whether you’re tackling your first solo or refining your ensemble skills, this guide will help you turn chaos into clarity—and gear into artistry.
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Meet Your Instructor
Ryan Lewis is a seasoned percussionist, educator, and a professor at Washington Baptist University in Arkansas. Throughout his career, he’s built an impressive reputation for his expertise in multiple percussion. Known for his clear and methodical teaching style, Ryan provides invaluable insights that help students not just learn the technical aspects of percussion but also understand how to make thoughtful musical decisions. In this post, Ryan’s tips will guide you through everything from choosing the right mallets and sticks to effective practice strategies, helping you to develop a solid foundation for multiple percussion performance.
What Is Multiple Percussion?
For those new to the term, multiple percussion or multi-percussion refers to one player performing on a personalized setup of various instruments—mallet instruments, tambourines, cymbals, drums—that are traditionally played by different musicians. Imagine a mini percussion ensemble, consolidated into a single player’s rig. As Ryan explains, the very first drum sets of the early 1900s were primitive examples of this concept—combining bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, and toms into one playable instrument.
Why Musicality Matters
Why should musicality be at the forefront of multiple percussion? Ryan points out that percussionists today must often navigate increasingly complex setups. More than just physical coordination or technical accuracy, performing well in this genre demands a deep musical understanding.
This makes multiple percussion an ideal educational tool. It challenges students to read multiple lines of notation, familiarize themselves with a wide range of instruments, and develop coordination and independence. But perhaps most importantly, it fosters creativity—every setup is a “brand-new instrument,” tailored to the music and the performer. As Ryan puts it, it’s not just educational—it’s fun.
Instrument Choice: Building Your Sonic Palette
Each instrument in a setup is a voice in your ensemble. Selecting the right tools to communicate your musical ideas is key.
“What’s the ideal sound for this woodblock? For this cymbal? For this bass drum?”
While practicality sometimes forces compromises, your sound concept should always lead your decision-making.
Take the bass drum, for instance. A piece might call for a flat, punchy sound. Possible solutions? A concert bass drum placed horizontally (perhaps dampened), a drum set bass drum, or even a marching bass drum. Ryan recommends Black Swamp’s MultiBass drum, which features adjustable legs and a low rim—ideal for flat positioning and ease of integration into a larger setup.
Similarly, concert toms can be substituted with double-headed drums for a fuller sound, or even timbales if dampened correctly. The goal isn’t just to check a box—it’s to contribute to the character of the piece. Products like the Black Swamp Tambourine Mount further expand your sonic possibilities, enabling you to mount and play your ideal tambourine in context.
Thoughtful Setup: Design for Musical Expression
A well-organized setup isn’t just convenient—it directly affects your ability to play musically and accurately.
Ryan shares four essential setup rules:
Keep instruments close together. Avoid wide reaches that disrupt phrasing or timing.
Maintain consistent playing heights. Instruments played in similar contexts should be on the same vertical plane. (BSP Artist, Morris Palter, sighted this as a key factor in the initial design of the MutliBass)
Ensure comfortable reach. Your body should remain relaxed and efficient while performing.
Align playing areas. Organize instruments so that their striking zones form a logical and efficient path for your hands.
For example, lining up temple blocks, woodblocks, and cowbells in a straight line using a Black Swamp Temple Block Mounting Bar or direct clamps reduces travel time and increases precision. While a composer’s diagram is a great starting point, Ryan recommends experimenting—but not committing—until you’ve worked through the piece and understand what really works.
Stick & Mallet Selection: Tone and Articulation
As with instrument choice, the sticks and mallets you use should serve the music. Ryan offers four practical tips:
1. Let the instrument guide you.
Heavy instruments (like bass drums) require sticks with weight and mass; smaller, sharper instruments (like woodblocks) respond better to lighter tools.
2. Read the score for clues.
Does the part suggest clarity (snare sticks, hard rubber mallets)? Or warmth and sustain (soft yarn mallets)? Use context to choose the right tool—just like timpani players do.
Musical Passage | Instrument(s) | Suggested Stick/Mallet | Rationale |
Fast, articulate rhythms | Woodblocks | Hard rubber mallets or sticks | Promotes clarity and speed |
Sustained, mysterious tone | Suspended Cymbal | Heavier, soft yarn mallets | Full, resonant tone with minimal attack |
General playing | Multiple | Medium-weight drumsticks or swizzle sticks | Versatile across a range of instruments |
3. Don’t be afraid to get creative.
Ryan once modified a hard rubber mallet with aluminum sheeting to better perform triangle rolls mid-piece. While tools like the Black Swamp RecPlate may remove the need for such hacks, the principle remains: adapt to meet musical demands.
4. Plan mallet changes like choreography.
Use a trap table or flat music stand with a black towel. Place them where you’ll need them, not just anywhere. Even if a stick is only used once, having it within reach can make or break your performance flow.
Performance Prep: Bringing It All Together
Ryan emphasizes that great multiple percussion performances don’t happen by accident—they’re the result of intentional practice.
Include setup and teardown in your practice. Every session should include time to physically arrange your setup. Repetition builds consistency.
Take detailed setup photos. Full shots and close-ups of instrument spacing, stand heights, and mallet placements will help you recreate your ideal configuration, especially when moving locations.
Improvise daily. Spend a few minutes improvising on your setup after warming up. It unlocks creativity, highlights physical inefficiencies, and builds musical connection.
Plan your page turns early. Don’t wait until dress rehearsal. Work them into your flow from the beginning, adjusting mallet and music placements as needed.
Final Thoughts: Your Setup Is Your Voice
Every time you approach a multiple percussion piece, you’re creating a brand-new instrument—and with it, a unique musical voice. By thoughtfully selecting your instruments, organizing your setup, choosing the right sticks and mallets, and practicing with intention, you’re not just playing notes—you’re telling a story.
As Ryan reminds us, the most important part of multiple percussion is this: It’s a creative, expressive, and deeply musical art form—so have fun exploring it.
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