Go! Da Capo! is named after a game found in Percussion Masters Beginner Group. This is the one game where getting to the end of a piece of music first makes you the winner! Players roll a di to determine phrases they attempt on different instruments. Eventually, all players will Go! Da Capo! and see how their piece will end. The sections in this composition are reminiscent of the material found within the game. Performers also shout at the audience when they repeat back to the beginning. A catchy little piece that will allow everyone to shine.

This arrangement of the popular William Tell Overture Finale shares the melodic spotlight between 2 mallet virtuosi. Musical interplay and hocketing are a feature in this rendition and the exciting build to the end does not disappoint. The conductor has a choice of timpani part, with 3 different arrangements included in the download for 4, 3 or 2 drums. The percussion part can be divided amongst 3 players on snare, bass drum and cymbal.

Let’s face it, stick tricks are cool. This is another introduction to the drumline style, using minimal equipment. Scored for percussion trio with 2 snares and a bass drum, parts can be doubled or orchestrated based on what is available. Some funky syncopated patterns provide a collaborative groove, as well as eye-catching stick tricks to dazzle audiences.

This original work is an entry level ensemble piece with plenty of guides to ease students into the world of note-reading as a group. Instrumentation is flexible and can be performed as a trio, quartet or more if parts are doubled. The staves are colour-coded in order to facilitate the ease of young ones following parts through multiple systems. This composition is included in Percussion Masters Beginner Group book.

‘The Emperor Waltz’ by ‘The Waltz King’ Johann Strauss II is a familiar tune to some and provides an accessible introduction to 3/4 time for young beginners. For trio, this arrangement challenges each novice percussionist in their own part, as well as listening to their fellow musicians. This arrangement is included in Percussion Masters Beginner Group book.

The Can Can is a percussion ensemble composition arrangement I made a few years ago. Here is a new take on the crowd-pleasing work that everyone knows and loves. The two mallet parts jest with each other through hocketing and interchanging of melody and harmony. The ending has several ossia bars for more advanced performers to tackle. The timpanist plays a significant roll in the driving energy, as well as the percussion part, which can ideally be covered by 2 or 3 people.

The downloadable files of sheet music include glockenspiel, xylophone, timpani and drum kit.

Rondo Alla Turka showcases a strong mallet soloist supported by snare drum and triangle. The accompanying parts are suitable for beginner percussionists but nevertheless, they have their own interest, with textural embellishments throughout. The melody is scored on marimba but can be performed on any alternative mallet keyboard instrument available.

This cute, beginner level trio or quartet is a novelty piece which utilises found objects in the classroom. Included in the book Percussion Masters Beginner Group, it’s a fun and engaging piece for both performers and audiences alike. The musicians are encouraged to memorise their parts and play up to the theatrics, particularly when one decides to use all of the remaining sticky tape…

The last ensemble composition in Percussion Masters Beginner Group, ‘O Fortune Hunter’ pays homage to the adored ‘O Fortuna’ opening theme. The excitement builds through driving semiquavers and rhythmic modulation. Some artistic license is given to the performers in how they transition into the recapitulation.

O Fortune Hunter

This drum ensemble piece for 3+ players is an introduction to drumline corps as popularised in the United States. The instrumentation is flexible, with the suggested line-up of snare drum, tenor drum and bass drum. Parts may be doubled at will for larger groups and rims and stick clicks may overlap other players for some added flair if desired. The laid back tempo makes it appropriate for entry-level high school ensembles.