UP FRONT - the hugely popular flagship book for today's pit ensemble by "the Jims" – Jim Casella and Jim Ancona– is now available in a reformatted flavor geared directly to the players themselves: UP FRONT Student Edition. This is a downloadable book containing most of the content from UP FRONT's in-depth Keyboard and Timpani Technique and Exercises chapters (chapters 2 and 3, respectively). This new, less expensive format allows students to benefit from the UP FRONT exercise program without weighing down their backpacks.
While the UP FRONT Student Edition is trimmed down significantly from the full book, it doesn't skimp on content. Within nearly 80 pages is a full regimen of 2-mallet and 4-mallet exercises for keyboard, timpani concepts and exercises, including workouts for pitch and pedaling, and a basic theory appendix consisting of important musical components every pit member should know. Below is a quick list of features.
- 2-mallet grip
- Wrist motion
- Playing zones
- 4-mallet grips including details on Burton and Stevens grips
- The concept of "touch" and its effect on sound quality
- Timpani grip/stroke/posture
- Breakdown of proper timpani stroke
- Singing and ear training
- Tuning and pedaling
- Practice suggestions
- Important musicianship concepts including phrasing and avoiding fake expression
- Over 40 pages of exercises
- Basic theory appendix including scales, modes, intervals, chord qualities and Roman numerals, Inversions, block chords and arpeggios.
If you're a teacher who uses UP FRONT for reference, arranging ideas, setup concepts, equipment care, or teaching tips, now your students can use the same technique information and exercises found in the book. It's the perfect way to implement it into your percussion program. If you've been holding off on using UP FRONT with your program because you didn't feel right requiring your students to purchase such a thick, detailed, resource book, the UP FRONT Student Edition is an affordable way for each student to have the technique and exercise program for themselves.
