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Playing Tips: Keep the Tips Close

Mike Lawson • Playing Tips • November 23, 2014

To ensure young percussionists are playing with their stick beads close together, take a quarter or a fifty-cent piece and place it directly in the center of the drum head. Then take a pencil and trace a circle around the coin so your students can see the circle when they start to play. Instruct them to play within the circle. This will train them to play with their stick beads close together. This produces a more consistent sound on the drum. You can also draw a circle toward the front edge of the drum head for softer playing zones.”

Dennis Johnson
University School of Nashville
Nashville, Tenn.

Submit your PLAYING TIP online at sbomagazine.com or email it to editor Mike Lawson at mlawson@timelesscom.com.
Winning entries will be published in School Band & Orchestra and the contributor will receive a prize compliments of EPN Travel Services, Inc.

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