Arend Weitzel

Timpani studies: Arend Weitzel The studies and exercises by Arend Weitzel, 1st solo timpanist of the Bochumer Symphoniker, are excellent both for beginners, advanced students and „old hands”. The  works “Practice the timpani – systematic technique exercises for the timpani”, “Movement – Coordination – Rhythm – 161 exercises for timpani” and "the timpani roll" in particular are worthwhile for anybody wanting to improve their technique and the subtleties of the whole sequence of movements. I like to use these booklets when working with my students, as they guarantee rapid and very visible success. For more information visit the homepage of  Arend Weitzel

Nick Woud
Nick Woud is a solo timpanist at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and teaches at the College of Music in Amsterdam. I am very fond of his studies “Symphonic Studies for Timpani”. All his etudes are very musical, every piece refers to a specific style or a specific composer, and Nick gives useful and interesting instructions for each etude. A „must“ for every timpanist!! I don’t know his latest work “The timpani challenge”, but I’m sure it will be worth a go. For more information see the homepage of Nick Woud

I personally like studies which are musical and which teach you techniques, not for the sake of mastering them, but to help you develop them along with musicality, as one does not make sense without the other. For this purpose I consider the studies of Richard Hochrainer, Heinrich Knauer and Eckehardt Keune invaluable. But I can also recommend some studies by Jacques Delecluse, especially 30 Etudes Vol. 3 pour timbales. You’ll find them at  Brandt percussion Versand