Sixteen on a Hand by Michael Beauclerc

“Sixteen on a Hand” is the first exercise an ensemble should play to begin each rehearsal to warm up the drummers’ muscles and focus their listening skills. It is two measures of eighth notes on each hand. Ensembles can learn this exercise four measures at a time, repeating them and adding next four measures as the ensemble improves. As they make their way to the end of the exercise, drummers learn dynamic control and melodic movement through the drums. Mallets are performing quarter note octaves following the “circle of fourths”. (C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G C…) Each exercise comes with a PDF download and YouTube link for play-a-long videos for snare, tenor, and mallets.