Unlocking Effective Practice Techniques for Auxiliary Percussion
- Nathan Coles
- Aug 29, 2024
- 7 min read
How to apply standard snare drum exercises to triangle and tambourine to build consistent sound, timing, and control.
Many student percussionists spend hours at the marimba, snare drum, or timpani, but treat triangle and tambourine as an afterthought. When a challenging part comes up in orchestra or wind ensemble, cramming technique at the last minute rarely yields great results. By applying the structure of your daily snare drum routines to your accessory instruments, you can build reliable control and musical confidence. In this guide, we combine insights from Black Swamp educators Alex Wier and the late Christopher Deane to show you how standard method books can transform your accessory playing.
Table of Contents
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TL;DR
Practice Auxiliary Percussion Regularly: Treat instruments like tambourine and triangle with the same attention as snare drum practice.
Use Snare Drum Books: Adapt simple snare drum exercises to build skills on auxiliary percussion instruments.
Focus on Sound and Control: Work on consistency, dynamics, and articulation for better tone and precision.
Mix Up Practice Materials: Use different books and exercises to keep practice varied and challenging.
Quality Over Quantity: Be mindful and creative during practice to make the most of your time.
Meet Your Instructor
Alex Wier is a Black Swamp Educator, percussion artist and music educator known for his dynamic performances, innovative compositions, and dedication to contemporary music. He has performed with ensembles such as the Milwaukee Symphony and Phoenix Symphony and regularly collaborates with contemporary music groups like Fifth House Ensemble and Present Music. As an Assistant Professor of Percussion and Percussion Area Head at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alex teaches a wide range of courses and directs several ensembles. He is a passionate advocate for new music, having commissioned numerous percussion works, and has presented at major conferences such as the Percussive Arts Society and the Midwest Clinic. His research has been published in *Percussive Notes* and *Rhythm! Scene*, and his work often integrates live electronics with percussion. Alex holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University and is an endorser of Marimba One, Innovative Percussion, Sabian, and Black Swamp Percussion.
To enrich this lesson, we also draw upon the foundational wisdom of the late Christopher Deane, former Professor of Percussion at the University of North Texas and long-time Black Swamp artist. Deane spent decades advocating for intentional, regular contact with accessory instruments, teaching that routine practice is the ultimate insurance policy for performance success. By combining Wier’s practical etude applications with Deane’s classic method book strategies, this guide gives you a clear path forward.
Rethinking Practice: From Snare Drum to Auxiliary Percussion
Auxiliary percussion instruments, such as the tambourine and triangle, are often overlooked in daily practice routines. Many percussionists only begin to focus on these instruments when they have a specific part in an ensemble or are preparing for an audition. This approach can lead to a rushed and stressful learning process, particularly since standard orchestral excerpts can be quite challenging.
Instead, we can approach these instruments as we do with snare drum and keyboard percussion: by developing a consistent practice routine that focuses on foundational techniques. For instance, snare drum players often warm up with exercises that target technical control and musicianship, rather than jumping straight into repertoire. Applying a similar mindset to auxiliary percussion instruments allows us to build comfort, touch, and control gradually, making the process more efficient and effective.
Leveraging Snare Drum Method Books for Creative Practice
An efficient way to build skills on auxiliary percussion instruments is to use materials you might already have, such as snare drum method books. These books provide a wealth of rhythmic material that can be adapted for tambourine, triangle, and other auxiliary instruments. For example, a simple exercise from Alfred’s Drum Method or a similar introductory book can serve as a versatile practice tool.
Take, for example, Lesson 4 in Alfred’s Drum Method, which introduces eighth rests. This page might seem simple at first glance, but it provides a valuable opportunity to work on articulation, dynamics, and rhythmic precision on instruments like the tambourine or triangle. The goal is to find material that is rhythmically straightforward, allowing you to focus on sound quality, articulation, and control. Using a metronome and recording yourself can help identify inconsistencies and improve timing and dynamics.
Exploring Articulation and Dynamics on the Triangle
One of the keys to effective practice is to break down exercises into specific goals. For the triangle, this could mean working on evenness and control in your playing. For instance, you might take a simple line of quarter notes and focus on creating a consistent tone while varying your touch and dynamics. As you progress, you can experiment with more advanced techniques, such as feather muffling or shaping phrases with crescendos and decrescendos.
Playing the triangle well requires intentional choices regarding beaters, striking locations, and dampening techniques.
Beater Selection: Light beaters offer clear articulation at softer dynamic levels, while heavier beaters draw out warm, rich overtones at louder dynamic levels.
Striking Locations: Striking near the top corner produces a bright sound with fast response. Striking on the lower horizontal bar provides a broader, fuller tone.
Dampening: Practice dampening with the fingers of your non-dominant hand while maintaining a steady rhythm with your dominate striking hand.
A good example is using the Black Swamp Legacy Bronze Triangle to explore different sounds and artistic possibilities. The triangle’s sensitivity requires awareness of both touch and tone quality. Practicing exercises that incorporate dynamic changes or different muffling techniques can help develop a more nuanced approach to the instrument.
Building Finger and Shake Roll Techniques on the Tambourine
Similarly, the tambourine offers a range of expressive possibilities through different rolling techniques. In snare drum books, exercises that involve dynamic changes or different rhythmic patterns can be adapted to practice both finger rolls and shake rolls. For instance, practicing a short passage that alternates between forte and piano, or that incorporates accented rolls, can help refine your control and execution.
Tambourine performance requires a wide range of motion and delicate touch depending on the musical setting.
Soft Articulation: Rest the tambourine on your knee or hold it at a slight angle, using two or three fingers near the edge of the head for delicate passages.
Loud Articulation: Position the tambourine so you can strike between your fist and knee for rapid, loud rhythms.
Roll Techniques: Maintain consistent pressure along the head for thumb and finger rolls, and focus on steady, relaxed wrist movement for continuous shake rolls.
It’s important to break down these exercises into smaller, manageable parts. Focus on the quality of each roll, the clarity of accents, and the consistency of tone. This methodical approach allows you to concentrate on the details and develop a deeper understanding of how to produce the best possible sound.
Broadening Your Practice Materials
You do not need a shelf full of specialized exercise manuals to develop great accessory technique. Standard snare drum method books work exceptionally well.
Alex Wier highlights Lesson 1 from Mitchell Peters’ Advanced Snare Drum Studies as an ideal framework. Reading through snare drum etudes on triangle or tambourine forces you to execute complex rhythms and sudden dynamic changes without overthinking your physical grip.
Christopher Deane frequently used George L. Stone’s Stick Control to build physical conditioning on accessories. You can adapt these classic sticking patterns in creative ways:
Tambourine Knee-Fist Technique: Play all right-hand strokes with your articulating hand and left-hand strokes against your knee.
Triangle Beater Placement: Play right-hand strokes on the bottom bar and left-hand strokes on the angled side bar using a single beater to build spatial accuracy.
Deane also recommended Ted Reed’s Syncopation as a versatile tool. You can play syncopated rhythms at a steady tempo, convert quarter notes into continuous rolls, or play through reading pages at a single dynamic level to build control.
Beyond traditional snare drum books, there are a variety of other resources that can be incredibly effective for auxiliary percussion practice. Books like Goldenberg's provide rhythmic duets that can be adapted for auxiliary instruments.
For a more tailored approach, TOUCH offers exercises that encourage musicians to play with a lot of style, character, and musicianship. This book adapts orchestral excerpts and melodies for percussion instruments, providing a creative challenge to play with expression and intention. Check out BSP Artist, Trevor Barroero, perform Scottish, The Marriage of Figaro, and Polovtsian Dances from TOUCH.
Student Action Plan
Integrating accessory percussion practice into your daily schedule takes only a few deliberate steps:
Rotate Daily: Pick one accessory instrument to focus on each day (e.g., Tambourine on Monday, Triangle on Tuesday, Castanets on Wednesday).
Hold a Single Dynamic: Work through an entire exercise session at a single dynamic level (pianissimo or forte) to build dynamic consistency.
Use a Metronome: Start at slow, comfortable tempi before increasing speed.
Apply Snare Books: Spend 5 to 10 minutes playing exercises from Stick Control or Syncopation on your chosen accessory instrument.
Focus on Thoughtfulness and Awareness
Effective practice isn’t just about the number of hours you put in; it’s about how you use your time and what you aim to achieve. Being thoughtful and aware of what you’re doing while you practice can make all the difference. By taking a creative and deliberate approach to practicing auxiliary percussion, you can unlock new levels of proficiency and artistry, transforming what might have seemed like secondary instruments into essential elements of your musical toolkit.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, experimenting with different materials and approaches can make your practice sessions more dynamic, fun, and, most importantly, effective. So, grab a method book, pick up your tambourine or triangle, and start exploring the endless possibilities for growth and creativity!