Introduction. How this book is organized ; Instruments covered ; Working with percussionists ; Location specifics ; The value of not reading this book.

Pain and injury are near constant companions for professional musicians. Aching hands, painful joint swelling, back problems, among other ailments were all thought to be part of the price musicians had to pay to be performers. However, thanks to an increasing awareness of both the kinesiology and biology of movement, as well as proper techniques for fostering good performance habits, musicians no longer have to suffer in silence. Perhaps no group of musicians has been more prone to career-threatening injury than percussionists, and the demands for speed, power, control, and endurance are only increasing. Often musicians wait until an injury is so aggravated that it's too late to be fully treated. In almost every case, if the drummer had done some very simple preventative (or early) care, the injury would never have become a serious issue. The Percussionists' Guide to Injury Treatment and Prevention is designed to aid in that early prevention and treatment. Although it is not a substitute for clinical diagnosis or medical care from a trained physician, it can educate the musician as to how the human body works; the role of muscles and skeletal structure in supporting movement; and understanding specifically how to prevent and treat common injuries. The book begins with a general discussion of how the body works and basic prevention concepts. It then covers each specific area of the body (where it hurts), suggesting practical ways to prevent and treat it. Basic anatomy is covered in terms that a musician can understand. For all percussion students and professionals, The Percussionists' Guide to Injury Treatment and Prevention will be an indispensable companion.

The Encyclopedia of Percussion is an extensive guide to percussion instruments, organized for research as well as general knowledge. Focusing on idiophones and membranophones, it covers in detail both Western and non-Western percussive instruments. These include not only instruments whose usual sound is produced percussively (like snare drums and triangles), but those whose usual sound is produced concussively (like castanets and claves) or by friction (like the cuíca and the lion’s roar). The expertise of contributors have been used to produce a wide-ranging list of percussion topics. The volume includes: (1) an alphabetical listing of percussion instruments and terms from around the world; (2) an extensive section of illustrations of percussion instruments; (3) thirty-five articles covering topics from Basel drumming to the xylophone; (4) a list of percussion symbols; (5) a table of percussion instruments and terms in English, French, German, and Italian; and (6) an updated section of published writings on methods for percussion.

Timpani traditions and beyond

"What singles this book out is the sheer diversity of instruments covered this is a very welcome book. It is fair to say that the science of percussion instruments would not have advanced anywhere near so far without the tireless enthusiasm and passion of Rossing and his students."Nature, 2001"It forms a very nice survey work on an entire class of musical instruments I recommend it to anyone interested in acoustics and the physics of musical instruments."American Journal of Physics, Sept 2001

Alphabetically arranged entries summarize the professional careers of over 500 percussionists from various musical venues. Due to the shrinking global village, ethnic percussion was rediscovered and incorporated into the concert hall. Since percussion transcends all musical styles, it often is featured center stage as a solo or ensemble in heterogeneous musical settings. These excerpts represent percussionists who spent the majority of their lives performing as collaborative or solo artists or working as inventors or manufacturers of percussion instruments. Where applicable, select discographies, bibliographies, and videographies accompany the entries. This detailed reference will appeal to professional percussionists, instructors, and percussion historians. Data has been compiled from numerous disparate sources and entries are cross referenced. Individual bibliographies include articles by or about the person and a general bibliography lists broader reference works. Discographies and videographies reflect samples of an artist's work. Select photographs complement the text.