A Rudiment Activity Your Percussionists Will Love!

On my very last day of teaching lessons before my retirement, I came up with a fun, high energy rudiment activity that my 4th and 5th grade percussionists loved. (I only wish I had thought of it sooner so I could have used it more!)

I set up enough drum pads in a circle for all percussionists in the lesson group plus one for myself. I explained that we would start out playing eight of the selected rudiment. I called out “Five-Stroke Roll!” And the fun began! We all played five-stroke rolls, counting each one separately, “One…Two…Three… Four…”. When we finished our eighth roll, we each took a quick step to the left, playing eight five-stroke rolls on the next drum pad. On our eighth roll, we again moved clockwise to the next pad and continued playing without missing a beat. When we eventually returned to our original drum pad, I shouted, “SIX!” and the activity continued again, still playing five-stroke rolls and moving clockwise around the circle. This continued with me shouting, “FOUR,” “TWO” and finally, “ONE!” This, of course, ended with squeals of laughter and exhaustion! I expected to hear my students say, “No More!” but I was thrilled to hear my students each begging to pick the next rudiment.

We did discover that some rudiments worked best if we added a stick click. For example, a Seventeen-Stroke Roll, worked out great by playing “1-e-and-a, 2-e-and-a, Tap, Click,” the Tap and Click being on beats 3 and 4.

Besides being a lot of fun, this activity provided a great opportunity to really assess each student’s grip and technique, which was then addressed later. We hope your students experience as much fun with rudiments as we did with this high-energy game!

Tami Feldman taught music for over twenty-seven years and recently retired from the Orchard Park Central School District. She attended Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, received her BME from Oral Roberts University, and her MM from the State University of New York at Fredonia. She earned Levels I and II in Orff-Schulwerk from the Eastman School of Music. Tami taught both Instrumental and Vocal Music at Cincinnatus, North Collins, Lakeshore and Orchard Park School Districts. Most recently, Mrs. Feldman taught Instrumental Music at Eggert, Ellicott and Windom Elementary Schools where she directed the Beginning and Advanced Bands. She has also directed the Fifth Grade Jazz Band and has been a percussion instructor for the Quaker Marching Band. Mrs. Feldman recently received the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/Erie County Music Educators Association Excellence in Music Education Award and Honorary Life Membership into the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Tami and her husband, David, reside in Orchard Park. They are the proud parents of Emi, Nate and Maddie and grandparents of Kennedy, Hudson and Calvin.