"One characteristic of percussion is that it's open to anything else than what it already has. The strings in the orchestra are not that way - they want to become more and more what they are; but the percussion wants to become other than what it is." John Cage, Percussive Notes, October 1999, p.71.

The Music and Performing Arts Library has a good collection of percussion scores, mainly orchestral, which provides technical studies for the percussionist. Smaller numbers of drumming tutors are available for rock and jazz. There are also sound recordings that are mostly contemporary western art music and a sample of ethnic drum music. Mechanical instruments are represented in the recordings collection by a small number of works featuring fairground organs, musical clocks and music boxes. There is a representative collection of books held on percussion instruments and their music; including good coverage of campanology. Works on history, repair and maintenance of the instruments have also been acquired.

Major References

Encyclopedia of Percussion
This book has extensive information on percussion traditions from Western and non-Western traditions. It has a dictionary, a section of illustrations and articles on percussion instruments.

Percussion Instruments and Their History
This reference explores the origins and history of percussion in different countries. It also discusses the development of percussion in the classical orchestra and contemporary percussion techniques.

Percussion Anthology
A collection of articles from past issues of The Instrumentalist which offers a comprehensive body of information about percussion instruments and playing techniques.

Journals

Modern Drummer
Filled with interviews and reviews Modern Drummer covers a range of drumming styles including jazz and rock. The magazine concentrates predominately on kit drummers. Visit the magazine's web site Modern drummer.

Percussive Notes
Journal of The Percussive Arts Society. It provides articles on a wide range of topics including interviews, percussion rhythms, reviews and techniques.

Community Resources

Education

Drum Bum
Includes a database of drum lessons.

Lessons: A Drum Lessons Database
An excellent set of links to drumming lessons organised by subject. There is also a database of drum tab sites.

Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music
Percussion pages of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. Includes details of its percussion course.

Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary: Percussion Instruments
Includes an excellent table of percussion instruments with descriptions and illustrations.

Festivals

Percussive Arts Society: Festivals, Conventions, Competitions
Link list of percussion festivals.

Interest/Support Groups

Web Association of Percussionists (WAP)
Lists pages of web links divided by percussion subjects eg: marching, trap set and ethnic.

Professional Associations

Percussive Arts Society
PAS promotes drums and percussion through a network of performers, teachers, students and enthusiasts. It accomplishes its goals through publications, a worldwide network of chapters, the PAS Web site, the Percussive Arts Society International Headquarters/Museum and the annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention. The Percussion Arts Society web site provides on-line access to the journal Percussive Notes, on-line forums and percussion research materials for members of the society. The site also provides links to percussion festival and educational sites, an on-line museum of percussion and recent percussion news.

Other Information Resources

Net Links

Percussion Instruments from Around the World
A collection of articles on percussion from all over the world.

Rhythmweb
Lists web links on drumming and percussion organised by instrument and country. The site also has a community aspect with a bulletin board and profiles of percussionists related to the site.

African Percussion
African Music Encyclopedia
Search by country or artist for information on African percussion. It also has Brazilian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern entries.

Samba
Brazilian Music.com
Samba - what is it? Enter this site to find out. Read about the legends and artists of Samba percussion. Filled with interviews and hotlinks.

World Samba Homepage
The most comprehensive list of samba links in the world.

Harmony Central - Drums & Percussion
This site has it all! Links to FAQs, discussion groups, lessons and other percussion sites eg hand drums and ethnic percussion.

Middle Eastern Drumming
Playing a Middle Eastern Percussion Instrument
Practical information on playing Middle Eastern percussion.

Yasmina's Joy of Belly Dancing: Middle Eastern Rhythms, Drum & Instruments
Learning the Dombec or tabla, rek or zills? This site provides information and links on Middle Eastern drumming.

Drummers and Percussionists
Evelyn Glennie
Home page for Evelyn Glennie, world famous solo percussionist.

Ringo Starr.com
Ex-Beatle drummer, Ringo Starr's home page.