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!
Advanced
***Note: at an advanced level, much of the focus is on the performance of solo repertoire, which may or may not exist in book form, particularly in the area of keyboard/four-mallet marimba performance.
Intermediate Snare Drum Studies, Mitchell Peters – a fantastic collection of pieces that covers a wide range of rhythms, time signatures, and techniques. All are only one page, so they are less intimidating for a younger musician to prepare. The first few pages contain developmental etudes for single rhythms/techniques, including multiple versions of the classic Three Camps solo. I love this book because the pieces offer opportunities for some interpretive musicianship for younger players, and some of the technical elements get quite advanced towards the end of the book.
Advanced Snare Drum Studies, Mitchell Peters – a collection of 2+-page pieces that retains Peters’ characteristically musical composition while building on the skill sets introduced in the prior book
The Blue Book, Vols. 1 & 2, various composers – a comprehensive pair of book of solos for rudimental snare, marching tenors, drumset, and multipercussion that range from easy to very advanced. The variety and range makes this set a great investment for a school library.
Portraits in Rhythm, Anthony Cirone – a classic text with 50 pieces of gradually increasing difficulty. Each piece has a musical theme or intent and, as the title implies, rhythmic or technical precision is a frequent focus.
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.
Xylophone Rags (ed. Eyles), G. H. Green – a collection of eight of Green’s original solos with piano accompaniment, in a variety of styles.
Method of Movement for Marimba, Leigh Howard Stevens – the textbook for Stevens technique marimba performance. The text is conceptually advanced but well-illustrated with photographs, and the extensive set of exercises is intended to be played in all 12 keys.
Studies in Copper, Alex Orfaly – a variety of etudes that challenge the performer not only on a technical level, but on a musical basis as well. Intended to push the player that is comfortable tuning and getting around the drums to expand their awareness of timing, touch, articulation, tone quality, and more.
The Solo Timpanist, Vic Firth – a collection of 26 demanding solos covering all aspects of timpani performance