MPS 2010 dates announced — July 31 - August 4, 2010. Learn more

Practice Assignments from
Championship Concepts for Marching Percussion
by Thom Hannum

The following are a series of assignments designed to help you use Championship Concepts For Marching Percussion. Throughout the seminar we will use these assignments to prepare and review materials you need to know. Be thorough, take notes, and make certain you understand the materials. Please bring pencils to all sessions.

  1. Read pgs. 2-3; Introduction; Commitment; To Excel; Program Overview
  2. Read pgs. 3-8; TECHNIQUE (The Three Keys; The Grip: matched/ traditional/four mallet; Stroke Guidelines; Practice Tips). Make an outline of this material on a clean sheet of paper. Be specific and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Later we will add to this outline.
  3. Prepare pgs. 8-11; TECHNIQUE (Independent Beat Patterns) Read pgs. 25-38; Playing Characteristics of Each Instrument
  4. Prepare pgs. 12-14; TECHNIQUE (Extended Beat Patterns)
  5. Prepare pgs. 15-16; TECHNIQUE (Staggered Accents)
  6. Prepare pgs. 17-18; TECHNIQUE (Roving 16ths and Sequencing Accents)
  7. Prepare pg. 19; TECHNIQUE (Flam Basics)
  8. Prepare pgs. 17-18; TECHNIQUE (Substitute flams for accents)
  9. Prepare pgs. 38-39; READING (Objectives; Check Patterns; One Beat Variations pg.39)
  10. Prepare Duple and Triplet Check Patterns; Ex. of No. 1 on pg. 39 .... tap your foot!
  11. Prepare pg. 40; READING (14 Duple Variations, 1-4) .... tap your foot!
  12. Prepare pg. 40; READING (14 Duple Variations, 5-10) .... tap your foot!
  13. Prepare pg. 40; READING (14 Duple Variations, 11 -14) ... tap your foot!
  14. Read and prepare pgs. 42-43; READING (Duple Timing Exercises)
  15. Read and prepare pg. 45; READING (32nd Note Sequencing; lines 1 and 2)
  16. Read and prepare pg. 45; READING (32nd Note Sequencing; lines 3 and 4; tap rolls)
  17. Prepare pg. 41; READING (6 Triplet Variations, 1-3) .... tap your foot!
  18. Prepare pg. 42; READING (6 Triplet Variations, 4-6) .... tap your foot!
  19. Read and prepare pgs. 44-45; READING (Triplet Timing Exercises)
  20. Read and prepare pg. 46; READING (16th Note Sequencing; lines 1 and 2)
  21. Read and prepare pg. 46; READING (16th Note Sequencing; lines 3 and 4; tap rolls)
  22. Read pgs. 46-48; MUSICIANSHIP (10 Guidelines). Make an outline of the Volume Chart and know the 3 Playing Zones. Review pg. 48; Hints For Improving Musicianship.

The Rudiment Ritual

  1. Prepare Diddle Rudiments (16-19) on pg. 20. Play 8 of each in succession, leading with RH. Use 8th note turnaround and repeat on LH.
  2. Prepare Single Stroke Roll Rudiments (1 -3) on pg. 20. Play 4 of each in succession.
  3. Prepare Multiple Bounce Roll Rudiments (4-5) on pg. 20. Play four of each in alternating fashion.
  4. Prepare Double Stroke Open Roll Rudiments (6-10) on pg. 20 in the following manner:
    6 = 7 beats
    plus two 8th notes
    7 = 8x's in alternating fashion
    8 = 7x's plus paradiddle turnaround (RH lead, then LH)
    9 = 7x's plus paradiddle turnaround (RH lead, then LH)
    10 = 8x's in alternating fashion
  5. Prepare Double Stroke Open Roll Rudiments (11-12) on pg. 20 in the following manner: 11 = 7x's plus double paradiddle turnaround (RH, then LH) 12 = 7x's plus double paradiddle turnaround (RH, then LH)
  6. Prepare Double Stroke Open Roll Rudiments (13-15) on pg. 20 in the following manner: 13 = 4x's in alternating fashion 14 = 3x's plus triple paradiddle turnaround (RH, then LH) 15 = 4x's in alternating fashion
  7. Prepare Flam Rudiments (20-23) on pg. 21 in the following manner: 20 = 4 beats of alternating quarter notes, followed by 4 beats of alternating 8th notes 21 = 8x's in alternating fashion 22 = 7x's plus flam paradiddle turnaround (RH, then LH) 23 = 8x's in alternating fashion
  8. Prepare Flam Rudiments (24-27) on pg. 21 in the following manner. 24 = 8x's in alternating fashion 25 = 8x's in alternating fashion 26 = 8x's in alternating fashion 27 = 7x's plus flam paradiddle turnaround (RH, then LH)
  9. Prepare Flam Rudiments (28-30) on pg. 21 in the following manner. 28 = 8x's in alternating fashion 29 = 7x's plus flam paradiddle turnaround (RH, then LH) 30 = 7x's plus triplet turnaround (RH lead , then LH)