The Total Percussion Blog

The TP Blog HAS MOVED!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 19:02:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

I will no longer be maintaining this site... please check out the new home of the TP Blog - JMW Percussion. This is my new webpage where I can manage not only blog posts, but my musician/educator/audio engineer homepage at the same time!

Keep the groove! Looking forward to connecting there! Cheers!

T.P. Blog - Micro Lesson 2 - The Groove

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 01:43:00 +0000

IMPORTANT - Net Neutrality and YOU!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 21:56:00 +0000

This is a very important 48 hours for The United States and the Internet as we know it. Please, take a few seconds out of your busy day to show your support for Net Neutrality. If you want places like this... The Total Percussion Blog to be openly available to you FOR FREE, you need to call the FCC and Congress to let them know you need them to STOP THIS VOTE TO KILL NET NEUTRALITY!

Call Ajit Pai, the Chairman of the FCC at 1-202-418-1000

Call your local Congress Persons - Find Them Here!

Tweet at your local Congress Persons - Find Them Here!

Support BattleForTheNet.com and raise awareness for the next 48 hours, BREAK THE INTERNET.

Thank you.

T.P. Blog - Micro Lesson 1 - Flams (That's Phat with a P-H!)

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 22:15:00 +0000

Return of the T.P. Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 16:35:00 +0000

It has been far too long since the last Total Percussion Blog POST! A lot has changed personally and professionally in my life. I have bought a house, changed day jobs, premiered a Percussion Concerto with an orchestra, and most recently, GOT MARRIED! AHH! 😁

That being said, I need to continue the blog. Teaching has been and always will be my passion. I am going to do my best to actively post Micro Lessons, covering all areas of percussion. These short video clips will be a max of 2 minutes and cover a very important technique, style, feel, groove, or element to add to your bag of tricks. The Micro Lessons will also cover all skill levels and difficulties. I hope you enjoy and engage with me via social media.

Remember, I am always looking for suggestions or topics you want to hear about. Email suggestions directly to me at totalpercussionblog@gmail.com or reach out on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

All Micro Lessons will be posted directly to Instagram and YouTube, and of course here!

Happy hitting!

JW

T.P. Blog Lesson #8- Something A Little Different...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:18:00 +0000

It is that time once again!!! Today's lesson is a little different (Correction, this is Lesson #8, not 7 as I said in the video!). We are discussing music programs in schools and the state of the American Symphony Orchestra.

Enjoy the conversation, and as always, feel free to leave your comments! A super HUGE thank you to Katie Ammann of The Music School of Roanoke Rapids and Marilee Teasley from MSU for dropping by and making this hangout a reality!!!!

If you want more information about specific orchestras and the current situation, check out the OrchestraPlayers website on Facebook.

T.P. Blog- Lesson #7- Thompson Double Traditional Grip?

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 20:57:00 +0000

WOW!!!! It has been incredibly too long since my last lesson! So much has happened in the past year... Let me take a hot second to fill you in!

After the last post, The Music School Of Roanoke Rapids had an amazing inaugural summer! I am so fortunate to have been asked to be involved there. After a crazy trip back to Indianapolis, I began my push to finish my masters at Butler. I ended up participating in so much amazing music there and finished with an amazingly fun recital! (if you want to catch the live-stream recording... you can here!!!)

After graduation, I got a job with Apple and moved to Chicago! YEAH ILLINOIS!!! Life is super exciting right now, and I wanted to try and devote more time to the blog. So, without further a due, here is a video shot while finishing up at Butler and is mostly a parody... Or is it??? I want to thank a very special guest for this episode (all the way from Canada) for lending his expertise and insight on the technique that he single handedly developed... on the spot. So, thank you Francois (aka Brendan) for demonstrating the amazingly useful Thompson Double Traditional Grip! Don't forget to work on those ETT's!!! Enjoy!

T.P. Blog- Lesson #6- Starting Your Own Private Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:03:00 +0000

This summer, I am teaching at The Music School of Roanoke Rapids, in Roanoke Rapids, NC! This lesson is a little different in that the topic is not anything specific to percussion, but rather dealing with starting your own private music studio. I will show you around the Music School and show you what we have created here.

I also got a chance to interview the owner, Katie Ammann. If you have any more questions about opening up your own studio or about what is going on with the Music School, please post in the comments section! The website for the Music School is http://www.themusicschoolofroanokerapids.com

Thanks for tuning in!

T.P. Blog- Lesson 5- Toys in the Orchestral Percussion Section

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:09:00 +0000

Today, we discuss some accessories in the orchestral percussion section, specifically: finger cymbals, triangle, and castanets. There are many different techniques to play these instruments, and I am going to detail the ones that work for me.

I would love to hear your comments about the lesson, and if you have any suggestions about what you would like me to cover next! Thanks for tuning in!

(I apologize for some of the sound distorting in a few places!)

T.P. Blog- Lesson #4- Crash Cymbal Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:07:00 +0000

Today I discuss my crash philosophy and detail the "Coda" from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on the lesson.

I also would love to hear if you have experienced any situations where the conductor has asked you to do something "out-of-the-ordinary" or requested you to play a part differently than you had prepared? I would love to hear your thoughts about these situations, because they happen all too often! What was requested of you? How did you react? Was this a valid musical suggestion, or was it outlandishly CRAZY??

I think in the end, we are just the performers. The "big picture" is larger than, say you or me as individuals. It is our job as performers to do what we are told, especially on the spot. Then, I believe you have the right to question the maestro in private, and/or make a different suggestion. Nothing should be questioned during a rehearsal, especially in front of the ensemble! You need to find a happy medium of being professional, yet not being pushed around.

As always, thank you for watching! And I encourage you to leave comments here or at http://totalpercussionblog.blogspot.com.

Have a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday!

T.P. Blog- Lesson #3- Keyboard Technique In The Front Ensemble

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Sun, 30 May 2010 01:26:00 +0000

So, as marching bands begin to pick up their rehearsals, I decided to spend a little bit of time with mallet technique and how that relates to the front ensemble.

I mention Tom Burritt, and his Percussion Axiom TV. Here is the link to PATV. Check it out! He has some great stuff going on there! His latest episode, #66, details some great stuff on Steven's Grip.

I welcome your comments and suggestions! Please leave them at totalpercussionblog.blogspot.com.

And don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast, via iTunes! Search Podcasts for "Total Percussion Blog."

Thank you for watching!

Lesson #2 (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:49:00 +0000

We now get into the nitty-gritty of playing these two instruments, the klong yaw and bombo legüero. These are some basic techniques that I use to produce consistent sounds out of the drums.

As always, please leave your comments! I appreciate them very much! And if you have any suggestions for future topics, please let me know!

Lesson #2 (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:13:00 +0000

Finally! I have gotten a chance to put out another lesson! Today, in multiple parts, I am discussing "Non-Traditional" techniques on two instruments that have recently made their way into my life: the Klong Yaw, and Bombo Legüero.

Sorry for the multiple parts, but this ended up being a long lesson, but I hope it's worth it!!!! Please, leave me your comments and thoughts! I love hearing from everyone who watches!!!

Specifically, I want to know this... Do topics like this interest you, and why?

Thanks!!!

New Roll-In!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Ok, I've been busy trying to make the videos look a little more professional, and here is what I cam up with!!!

I start my last semester of undergrad study in a few days, so I might not be able to continue with another lesson on Two Mallet Technique for a few days... I will try my best. Please let me know what you think... (and I did not mean to use the same music as the Vic Firth Podcasts... mine is slightly different, but I can see now that Vic Firth does their podcasts in iMovie too!!!) :)

Enjoy!

Total Percussion Blog Now Available in iTunes!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:18:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

iTunes has approved The Total Percussion Blog for their Podcast subscription database!!! The easiest way to find it is to open iTunes, click iTunes store, and search podcasts for "The Total Percussion Blog."

Or you can follow this link, and click the "Subscribe With iTunes" button on the right hand side.

More lessons to come very soon, other than the short talk about 2 mallet technique...

Thanks!!!

Testing... Testing... Lesson #1 (partial)

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Here is the first lesson. Just a short talk about myself and an introduction to two-mallet grip. I welcome your comments!!! Let me know what you think. Thanks!

First Post

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Williamson) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:26:00 +0000

This is my first post. Just got the blog up and running. Let me know what you think.

My goal is to post bi-weekly video lessons, and eventually have them on iTunes. These lessons will encompass anything percussion related. Any instrument, any topic, or any technique that I feel like I can explain. This might even expand to a possible series covering lengthy discussions or entire pieces/etudes.

I hope to have the first lesson up in a few days. If you want something specific to be covered, let me know! I think we will begin with mallet technique and approach to musicality. That seems like as good a place to start as any.

Thanks for stopping by!