There are many techniques a percussionist must learn in order to become a well-rounded musician. Fortunately, many of them are applicable on a variety of percussion instruments. The roll is the perfect example.
Maintaining a smooth, clear and clean roll is difficult. This article will provide you with a number of exercises that can be added to your warm-up routine to help improve your roll. Each begins with the foundation (the pattern with which your hands move), followed by a roll. The exercises can be practiced utilizing double, triple or multiple bounce rolls. Also included are exercises that start and end on different hands to improve the technique of the non-dominant hand.
Many educators are of the opinion that the roll is best produced using an arm stroke, where the tips of the sticks stay closer to the drumhead, since this aids in controlling the distance between the bounces of the roll.
Exercise A – Continuous Motion Exercise
We recommend that you use an arm stroke for both the foundation (measures 1 and 3) and the roll exercises (measures 2 and 4). This will help stress the importance of using the arm.