Classical Percussion Essentials

From the xylophone to the timpani, it's a joy to embrace the wide range of sounds coming from the percussion section. You'll find catchy melody from the Orff-Schulwerk school, which will be familiar to kids whose teachers follow that playful approach, as well as to fans of the movie Badlands. There are snazzy polyrhythmic showpieces by Bartók in which rich orchestral arrangements accompany the drummer, and the rhythm-focused nature of early American minimalism also gets its due. Expect a few jazzy touches, too.