the official blog of the Percussive Arts Society

“These exercises were inspired by the late Shelly Manne. He could create the illusion of a ball being dropped on the snare without interrupting the jazz time feel. Our goal is a fluid technique that allows us to create rhythmic illusions that can float across barlines and to provide more expressive comping behind a soloist.”

Check out these tips and exercises for greater left-hand independence from an August 2000 Percussive Notes article.

“Go slowly at first. Tap your foot and feel solid downbeats. With consistent practice all syncopation should feel natural.”

Check out this collection of rhythmic exercises from a June 2000 Percussive Notes article.

“No matter what level of players make up the ensemble, the challenge of playing together with a unified sense of pulse usually separates these groups into different levels of excellence. If rhythms are not lining up correctly, the strength of their chops and intricacies of the music will not be appreciated unless certain timing issues are addressed.”

Check out this August 2000 Percussive Notes article about the value of timing exercises within marching ensembles.