Percussion instruments such as drums, cymbals, gongs, and xylophones comprise one of the largest and ever-expanding areas of music performance, composition, and sound effects. Profusely illustrated, A Dictionary for the Modern Percussionist and Drummer is an essential resource for any student, professional, or amateur musician who wants to delve into the vast world of percussion and drumming instruments and terminology. With an emphasis on modern terms in many languages and genres, James A. Strain has defined, detailed, and explained the use of percussion instruments and drums not only for classical genres (such as orchestra, symphonic, band, and opera) but also for popular styles (such as jazz, rock, music theater, and marching band). Also included are those world music instruments and ensembles commonly found in public school and university settings (such as steel drum bands, samba bands, and gamelan ensembles) as well as historical genres related to rope and rudimental drumming. Written for professional and amateur percussionists as well as non-percussionist educators, this book includes valuable topics on instrument construction and tuning and specific playing techniques, as well as instrument setup diagrams with models and ranges of keyboard percussion instruments. With more than 300 images and examples, it is the ideal reference book to enable any musician to better understand the extensive world of percussion and drumming.

"Strain is a respected percussionist and professor and historian of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS). The title's use of both "drummer" and "percussionist" is significant, indicating that the work is meant not only for symphonic/concert percussionists but also for teachers and performers in commercial genres. The book is also intended as a resource for those who need to communicate with percussionists, such as conductors, composers, and arrangers. The dictionary is devoted largely to the names of instruments, mallets, and other equipment, along with terms for playing techniques and instructions one is likely to find written in percussion music. Entries are included from all Western languages as well as English. Brief entries are included for important manufacturing companies, and for inductees into the PAS Hall of Fame. There are 15 appendixes, the most useful of which address preparing for college and professional auditions, list typical audition repertoire, examine notes on marking percussion parts for rehearsal, and offer a table of standard ranges of pitched percussion instruments. All in all a welcome resource that will serve its intended audiences well. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers." - CHOICE

"This book is highly recommended for college libraries as well as for individual use by performers and teachers. Congratulations to the author and publisher for bringing this important publication to the reading public." - NACWPI Journal