INtroduction to percussion history and literature
Percussion History and Literature is intended for Percussion Performance Majors and Music Education Majors at the college and university level. Faculty members at higher educational institutions have the opportunity to license the course for credit at their institution. This course can be delivered entirely online or integrated into the faculty member’s syllabus, serving as a comprehensive online textbook.
Undergraduate students will explore key elements of their instruments’ history and become acquainted with significant works in percussion literature. It is also an excellent resource for graduate students seeking to deepen their understanding of these topics or prepare for written and oral exams.
The course comprises six main modules: Background and Essential Information, Instrument Histories, Orchestral Literature, Chamber Literature, Percussion Ensemble Literature, and Solo Percussion Literature. These six modules provide an extensive overview of percussion instruments' history and literature from the early influences of Janissary Music up through the 21st century.
All course materials are accessible anytime and anywhere, utilizing a wealth of dynamic content including videos, audio files, musical scores, articles, timelines, and more. Additionally, the course offers suggested assignments and sample module exams that faculty members can utilize as they are or modify to their needs.
FAQ about Percussion History and Literature
Example Syllabus for a 16-week semester
Example Syllabus for two 12-week semesters
For courses offered for credit at the college or university level, a Course License is required. Students enrolled in these credit-bearing courses must purchase a Student License.
Independent learners taking the course for personal enrichment or professional development (non-credit) are required to purchase a Non-Credit License.
Percussion History and Literature is intended for Percussion Performance Majors and Music Education Majors at the college and university level. Faculty members at higher educational institutions have the opportunity to license the course for credit at their institution. This course can be delivered entirely online or integrated into the faculty member’s syllabus, serving as a comprehensive online textbook.
Undergraduate students will explore key elements of their instruments’ history and become acquainted with significant works in percussion literature. It is also an excellent resource for graduate students seeking to deepen their understanding of these topics or prepare for written and oral exams.
The course comprises six main modules: Background and Essential Information, Instrument Histories, Orchestral Literature, Chamber Literature, Percussion Ensemble Literature, and Solo Percussion Literature. These six modules provide an extensive overview of percussion instruments' history and literature from the early influences of Janissary Music up through the 21st century.
All course materials are accessible anytime and anywhere, utilizing a wealth of dynamic content including videos, audio files, musical scores, articles, timelines, and more. Additionally, the course offers suggested assignments and sample module exams that faculty members can utilize as they are or modify to their needs.
FAQ about Percussion History and Literature
Example Syllabus for a 16-week semester
Example Syllabus for two 12-week semesters
For courses offered for credit at the college or university level, a Course License is required. Students enrolled in these credit-bearing courses must purchase a Student License.
Independent learners taking the course for personal enrichment or professional development (non-credit) are required to purchase a Non-Credit License.
Video Excerpts
Module 1 - Aural Analysis
Module 1 - Percussion Notation Part 3
Module 2 - History of Tambourine Part 1
Module 2 - History of Snare Drum Part 2
Module 3 - Chapter 2 Part 2
Module 4 - Chapter 2 Part 3
Module 5 - Chapter 2 Part 3
Module 6 - Multi-Percussion Solo Part 4
Module 1 - Aural Analysis
Module 1 - Percussion Notation Part 3
Module 2 - History of Tambourine Part 1
Module 2 - History of Snare Drum Part 2
Module 3 - Chapter 2 Part 2
Module 4 - Chapter 2 Part 3
Module 5 - Chapter 2 Part 3
Module 6 - Multi-Percussion Solo Part 4
Testimonials for PH&L
Dr. Jeffrey M Moore, Dean at the University of Central Florida
Dr. Weinberg¹s on-line Percussion History and Literature course is an outstanding contribution to percussion education. The depth and breadth of the information presented, as well as the organization of the materials in lecture, readings, audio/video files and score study formats is really a one of a kind resource that is essential for all people interested in percussion. The course utilizes best practices in on-line education including varied forms of assessment that help ensure learning outcomes. I use the on-line materials within with my face to face percussion history and literature course to create a mixed mode type of class. I have also worked with students who took the course completely on-line and have seen outstanding learning results in both environments. I give this course my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation both as an introduction or refresher course on the subject.
Dr. Christopher Deane, Professor of Percussion, University of North Texas College of Music (In Memorial)
Dr. Weinberg's on-line Percussion History and Literature course is a remarkable contribution to percussion education. We have used this course at the University of North Texas for eight years and the results have been excellent. This course gives an overview of historic percussion instrument developments, important composers in many genres, examples of solo, chamber and orchestral percussion music and wonderful recordings and videos to support the information shared. Teaching the history of our percussive art can be daunting. This course provides an important base of knowledge that will inspire further investigation by every student participant and make the teaching of this important information direct, focused and organized, and memorable. I highly recommend this resource!
Dr. Megan E. Arns, Associate Professor of Percussion, University of Missouri School of Music
"This course is a must-have for every collegiate percussion student and instructor! The content is expertly selected, and the included resources (such as recordings and pdf scores) are wonderful to have in one place. Providing a well-organized and flexible format, this course can be implemented as a semester-long class, or as a supplemental study for comprehensive exams. We have enjoyed using Dr. Weinberg's Percussion History & Literature course here at the University of Missouri!
Dr. Brian Zator, Director of Percussion, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Past President, Percussive Arts Society
Norm Weinberg has created THE most inclusive, informative, and all-encompassing resource covering percussion history and literature. Instructors and students will discover incredible depth through the research-intensive video lessons, scores, audio files, articles, and more.
Phillip R. O’Banion, Associate Professor, Artistic Director of Percussion, Temple University
Norm’s course materials are incredibly informative and thorough. Content is structured logically, and ample details about specific literature is provided. Prof. Weinberg does a good job of distilling the most relevant and interesting information on the subject for the collegiate percussionist.
Dr. Brady Spitz. Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Percussion Activities, Appalachian State University
The Percussion History and Literature course by VAP Media is unparalleled as a tool to create depth and context in a student’s percussion education. Its structure eschews a single narrative history, diving deep on single instrumental or performing traditions in a way that allows teachers to illuminate meaningful cross-connections and anecdotal sources. By accessing this staggering amount of content on the VAP Media website, teachers can finally realize a flipped-classroom model and use class time to explore project-based learning and activities that utilize higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. I highly recommend this resource to anyone and everyone!
Paige DeDecker, Percussion Instructor at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, Florida
I am currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Last year I took a percussion literature and pedagogy class that used your online course, and I just wanted to say thank you for compiling such a comprehensive resource! I learned so much from that class, and I am appreciative to have a working knowledge about the field in which I am studying.
Dr. Ryan Frost, Instructor of Percussion, Wartburg College
This course is a must for the serious percussionist. Dr. Weinberg's online percussion history and literature course is an incredible resource for today's percussionist. Thorough in content and creatively designed, this course allows the flexibility to accommodate a demanding schedule.
Dr. David Hall, Associate Professor of Percussion, University of North Texas
I emphatically recommend Dr. Weinberg’s outstanding Percussion History and Literature Course! I use this course as our primary resource for our upper-level percussion literature course at the University of North Texas, and previously used it when I taught the same course at the University of Nebraska. The most recent update brings another several decades of major works and information as well as a beautiful new look to all of the videos. This is the most robust and comprehensive resource out there and I cannot recommend it enough!