Author: John

by Frederick D. Fairchild Timpanist, teacher, composer, author, conductor, and inventor Saul Goodman served as timpanist with the New York Philharmonic for nearly two generations, having succeeded his own teacher, Alfred Friese. He was on the Juilliard School of Music faculty and is one of the most renown teachers in percussion history, sending many students…

by Frederick D. Fairchild William F. Ludwig, noted percussion manufacturer, percussionist, and inventor of the balanced-action timpani, began playing drums when his family moved to Chicago in 1887. His career led him to play concerts, operas, dances, shows, and circuses, most notably with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Arthur Pryor’s Band, Chicago Grand Opera and Chicago Civic…

by Frederick D. Fairchild John Noonan’s career began with silent movies and expanded to include all areas of classical and popular percussion. His educational activities included private teaching, serving as Educational Director for Ludwig & Ludwig and Percussion Instructor at Illinois Wesleyan University, authoring numerous magazine articles, and writing educational booklets including Notes on Band…

by Frederick D. Fairchild Known as the “Dean of American Percussion Teachers,” Roy C. Knapp’s long tenure in Chicago dated from 1921. He became well known as a drummer, percussionist, and xylophone soloist, recording and working for the large radio stations. From 1928-1950, he was on the staff of station WLS, playing such shows as…

Elected to the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame in 1972 in the categories of author, education, radio/television, and rudimental. Haskell Harr is best known as the author of graded method books for rudimental snare drumming.

by Frederick D. Fairchild Master teacher and percussionist James Salmon was on the University of Michigan music faculty from 1954 until 1972. His background included study with Roy. C. Knapp in Chicago, teaching at Knapp’s famed School of Percussion, touring with Clair Omar Musser’s 1936 Marimba Orchestra, performing 4 1/2 years in military bands, and…

by Frederick D. Fairchild Famed percussionist, teacher, and author Morris Goldenberg’s work centered around New York, where in 1938 he became percussionist at WOR. He played for recordings, film scores, TV commercials, served on the NBC-TV staff, and eventually performed for most of the major conductors. His fame as a teacher stems from his affiliation…

by Frederick D. Fairchild Composer Harry Partch created a music that by its nature led to the invention of a fantastic array of percussion instruments. Rejecting equal temperament and much of Western musical heritage, he developed a system based on Just tuning and conceived of a “corporeality” that demanded special instrumental resources. He spoke of…