Technical Exercises

These studies and exercises are available for download and suitable for introductory excursions into a technical approach to pandeiro and caxixi.  Many of the studies were first constructed for self use and later made available to students in my studio.  Accompanying photos are provided to enhance the approach to the instruments.

Timpani Warm-Up

This 3-minute (2 page) warm-up routine for four timpani is a quick approach to getting "reacquainted" with the drums with physical preparation to indulge in a practice, rehearsal, or performance setting.  The technical structure touches on relaxed lifting strokes, lateral flow around the drums, drum-to-drum shifts (sticking-based), tonal and rhythmic evenness, grace notes, roll development, roll shifts and slurs, dotted rhythms, muffling, forte-piano rolls, and staccato strokes.  [Stickings were developed with order of large drum on player’s left; right-handed player.]