Welcome to BANG A DRUM!
Bang a Drum! is a fast paced, light-hearted presentation of the history of drums. Numerous instruments are included, and the entire demonstration is veiled in facinating rhythms derived from different cultures of the world!
Bang a Drum has recently been performed at the following locations:
2000-01
| School |
Location |
| Centenial Central Public School |
London |
JP Robarts Public School |
London |
| Lord Nelson Public School |
London |
| Oxford Park Public School |
London |
| Sir Winston Churchill Public School |
London |
| Southdale Public Scool |
Strathroy |
| Mosa Central Public School |
Middlesex County |
St. Mary's Catholic School |
Blenheim |
2001-02
| School |
Location |
| Emily Carr Public School |
London |
Bishop Townshend Public School |
London |
| Brick Street Public School |
London |
| Ryerson Public School |
London |
| Colborne Street Public School |
Stratroy |
| Caradoc Central Public Scool |
Middlesex County |
| Caradoc North Public School |
Middlesex County |
2002-03
| Orchetra London Pillow Concerts |
London |
| St. George's Public School |
London |
Bang a Drum Concert Outline
The following is a general outline of the "Bang a Drum!" presentation:
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Udu Drum (African Clay Pot)
Pitch - high, medium and low
Timbre - shell and resonance chamber
Log Drums (African tongue drums)
Pitch - high, medium and low (produced by different length tongues)
Timbre - different striking areas
Djembe (Africa - Senegal)
hollow log with animal skin stretched over top
pitch and timbre (bass tone, dead stroke (heal and fingertips), open tone and slap tone
Drum Tuning & Snares:
(effects of humidity on skin heads require the drum to be tuned higher or lower)
Military Drum with rope tuning
Calf heads, Cat Gut snares
Snare drum sticks held with Traditional or Matched Grip
Bass Drum with T-rod Tuning Lugs
Calf heads
Bass drum stick (Large beater)& Rute (bundle of Sticks)
Faster rhythms are played on the shell with the rute(high pitch)
Slower rhythms are played on head with the bass drum mallet(low pitch)
Stick Grips:
Traditional Grip - drum is slung on the players side and hangs on an angle due to gravity
Matched Grip - drum is mounted on a snare drum stand and can be played flat (with the playing surface parallel to the floor
Modern Snare Drum
Plastic heads
Wire Snares
Snares on and off
Rudiments:
RL - single strokes (2 notes)
RRLL - double strokes (4 notes)
RLRRLRLL - paradiddles (8 notes)
Rolls:
When RRLL is continuously repeated at a fast speed, a Long Roll is produced
Short rolls include 5 stroke, 7 stroke, 9 stroke, 11 stroke, 13 stroke, 15 stroke, 17 stroke, etc.
Other rudiments include Flams, Roughs, Drags, etc.
Rudimental Style Snare Drum Compositions performed:
Three Camps (Wilcoxon)
Heating the Rudiments (Wilcoxon)
Roughing the Single Drag (Wilcoxon)
Rolling in Rhythm (Wilcoxon)
Concert Style Snare Drum Compositions performed:
Etude #1 (Gray)
Happy (Gray)
Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum (Benson)
- Cretan Dance
- Fox Trot
- Fandango
Polyrhythm Clapping Demonstration
two beats in the time of three - two against three
Multi percussion composition performed:
Morris Dance (Kraft)
(bass drum, tom tom, snare drum) demonstrating:
Pitch - low, medium, high pitches
Timbre - different methods of striking with sticks, hands and brushes
Timpani:
Sonata for Timpani (Beck)
4 drums - 4 pitches demonstrating:
rapid tuning by means of the pedal
Timbre - different striking areas and different types of mallets
For more information, or to book a performance, email D'Arcy at:dgray1@execulink.com