A Percussionist's Notebook

 Hump:  The process of playing an open roll slowly with a controlled bounce, gradually speeding up to a natural bounce and back again to a controlled bounce with a smooth and undetectable transition from control to bounce and back to control.  This is normally done during a competition and it is expected that it is an OPEN or RUDIMENTAL roll. Sometimes at the fastest speed the roll would morph into a CLOSED or CONCERT roll. The point of this is to show the drummer's ability to control the rebound of his/her sticks. I have always used a diagram to explain this to my students. The first diagram describes the process when the control-bounce-control transition takes place when the drummer can play only so fast at controlled and only so slowly at the bounce. If the drummer can only make this change at this one point (B) it will not be a smooth transition. But if the student can learn to play the controlled bounce faster than the natural bounce and conversely the natural bounce slower th

 One of the manifestations of my OCD is that when I start thinking about something I find it difficult if not impossible to let go of it. I made two more wood blocks but this time I used my scroll saw cutting the inside of 2 X 4s so only the top and bottom were open. Cutting a slot in the top front I glued 1/4" dry erase whiteboard on the top and 1/2" plywood on the bottom. After the glue set I installed small wire brads top and bottom to re-enforce the glue. Sanding the tops and bottoms evened out the block and rounded the edges. I applied walnut wiping stain to give it a 'hardwood' finish.  Yea, the staining didn't turn out too well ("I'm a drummer Jim, not an interior decorator!"). But they sound very good. I still have to decide if I want to put silicon on the tops.  Now maybe I can put this project to rest.  

 Slit drum, tongue drum, Teponaztli. Wooden drums usually made from hollowed logs are common among many cultures around the world and have various names. The 'tongues' were usually cut in the shape of an 'H' on the top forming 2 different lengths which in turn produced 2 different pitches. Teponaztli (Aztec) Museum of Anthropology, Mexico About 30 yrs ago I made 2 for myself. The sides and bottom were plywood with a top (for the beating surface) of a maple board.   The larger one (not pictured) had a great sound but the smaller one (above) have the tongues too short for a good resonant sound. Unfortunately the larger one was loaned out to a local high school and was never returned. Obviously my Teponatzli is not as visually striking as the one made by the ancient Aztecs, but the sound is similar. It was another fun project.

Wood blocks are ideal for teaching multiple percussion since different sizes produce different pitches, requiring the student to read multiple lines and or spaces. The problem is that I have a limited number of wood blocks to loan out for my students to use. A few years ago I decided to made some quick and easy wood blocks. I used pine 2 X 4's since they were easy to get and cut. Using a jig saw they were cut into 'U' shapes, 1/16" plywood was glued on the bottom and 1/4" toe kick board for the top (beating surface), and a small strip for the front to form a slot.  Molefoam© was used for the feet. The result was about as quick and dirty of a project that I have ever done but the sound was acceptable for practice.    A later version had an integrated front slot by drilling holes before cutting the 2 X 4.  Recently I found that by gluing rubberized tool drawer lining to the top created a sound similar to a Temple block. Since I now have a scroll saw I should be able

The handle installation went smoothly, insert the handle into the bottom hole, using combinations of popcorn, beans, wood beads and bone beads thru the top hole and continue pushing the handle into the top hole. Finishing the rattles was similar to that of the rawhide rattle. Leather/suede from Hobby Lobby and thrift stores, feathers (from a ringneck pheasant that I shot in 1968 during my hunter-gatherer days),fur from a friend's discarded coat, wood and plastic beads from a recycle store, pieces of deer antler that my father gave me years ago, the hair (to imitate horse hair) was from wigs I found at a thrift store at Halloween. Leather glue was mostly used for attaching all of these. There were times when the glue needed to set immediately so I applied super glue and sprayed a fine mist of ammonia to accelerate it.    I'll be shipping these off to Stan soon. My next project? I'll be cleaning the drum room😬

 I was planning to update my gourd rattle project today when I received a message from my brother this morning. One of our cousins passed away last night from Covid-19.  During the summers Dave and 2 his sisters would stay at our house for 2 weeks. Afterwards Pop would take us all back to Ohio and my brother and I would spend 2 weeks at their house. They were always fun times, raiding my aunt's garden eating all the veggies, looking for water moccasins near the creek (I don't think they live in Ohio but it was fun to look for them). Dave was the person who taught my brother and me how to ride a bike. His wife has also tested positive to the virus. It was inevitable that the pandemic would become personal. May you rest in peace Dave.