This is a subject of much debate – one of those things where if you ask 10 percussionists what their favorite books are, you’ll probably get 10 different answers. That being said, there are some books that are classics and widely used among percussion educators – canonical texts, if you will – and I’ve combined those with a few of my personal favorites to create this list. Enjoy!
***Note: Rather than organize this list by instrument (snare, keyboard, etc.), I’ve chosen to organize it by developmental level. What constitutes beginner vs. intermediate vs. advanced is definitely subject to interpretation, but I’ve used my experience as a guide. In general, Beginner is appropriate for elementary and middle school/junior high, Intermediate for middle school/junior high and early high school, and Advanced for high school and early college. MANY books contain a range of difficulty levels and therefore may appear on more than one section of the list. If you have feedback, suggestions, or questions, please drop me a line via my contact form. Thanks for visiting!
Beginner
Simple Steps for Successful Beginner Percussion, Kennan Wylie – a comprehensive method book for beginning percussion; covers most rudiments, rhythms, and skill sets on snare; scales and note reading for keyboard; tuning, reading, and moving around the drums for 2-4 timpani, and the major concert accessories. Contains a number of keyboard and snare solos appropriate for contest/recital performance.
Mallet Percussion for Young Beginners, Randy Eyles – a great collection of large-print versions of familiar tunes – great for the youngest players.
Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone, Morris Goldenberg – a comprehensive text that covers note reading and keyboard skill development for two mallets, from beginner to advanced.
Shazam!, John Pollard – Keyboard solos for the younger percussionist. Tuneful and approachable, these solos are enjoyable and developmental for younger percussionists.
Elementary Snare Drum Studies, Mitchell Peters – A collection of etudes that ranges from the most basic (quarter notes) through various time signatures, sixteenth and triplet rhythms, and techniques for snare. Final etudes are intermediate-level.
Developing Dexterity, Mitchell Peters – A collection of patterns and exercises to develop sticking, accent/tap control, and grace note figurations (flams and ruffs). Ranges from beginner to advanced, depending on tempo and application.
Stick Control for the Snare Drummer, G. L. Stone – a classic text. Sticking patterns upon sticking patterns to develop dexterity and control over rebound and rudiments.
Fundamental Method for Timpani, Mitchell Peters – a “how to” manual that covers every aspect of playing timpani, with developmental etudes to match.
Pedal to the Kettle, Kirk Gay – a fantastic developmental timpani solo book that ranges from the very basic to fairly advanced.
The Art of Percussion Playing, Grover/Whaley – a how-to text that covers triangle, tambourine, bass drum, cymbals, and accessories in a comprehensive guide for young players.