Encyclopedia of Percussion

John Beck is professor of percussion at the Eastman School of Music, where he has taught since 1959. He has conducted the school's percussion ensemble since 1962. Articles by Beck have been published in Music Journal, The Instrumentalist, Woodwind World, Brass and Percussion, and Percussive Notes; he was also percussion columnist for the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) Journal (1965-72). His compositions have been published by Carl Fischer, Boston Music, Kendor Music, Meredith Music, MCA, Wimbledon Music, Inc., Studio 4 Productions, and CPP/Belwin. He has served as state chairman for percussion, New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA, 1970-72); president of the New York State Percussive Arts Society (1976-82); national second vice president (1982-84), first vice president (1984-86), and president of the national Percussive Arts Society (1987-90). Among the honors Beck has received include being named the Mu Phi Epsilon Musician of the Year (1976); Eastman's Eisenhart Award for Excellence in Teaching (1997); and the Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester Award for contributions to the arts (1999). He was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1999.

PREFACE CONTRIBUTORS ALPHABETIZED PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS - A TO Z DICTIONARY OF PERCUSSION TERMS AS FOUND IN THE SYMPHONIC REPERTORIE GLOSSARY OF PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS AND TERMS IN: ENGLISH, GERMAN, FRENCH AND ITALIAN PICTURES OF PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS PERCUSSION PERSONALITIES: A. SYMOHONIC ORCHESTRA PERCUSSION SECTION B. PERCUSSION INSTRUCTORS C. DRUM SET PLAYERS D. VIBRAPHONE PLAYERS E. LATIN PERCUSSION PLAYERS INDEX OF ARTICLES: BASLE DRUM PUBLISHED METHOD BOOKS FOR PERCUSSION PRE-1960 BASS DRUM PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS OF BRASIL THE HISTORY AND MANUFACTURE OF CALFSKIN HEADS CASTANETS CYMBALS HISTORY OF THE DRUM SET ELECTRONIC PERCUSSION THE PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY - A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE JANISSARY MUSIC KETTLEDRUM LATIN-AMERICAN PERCUSSION MULTIPLE PERCUSSION PERCUSSION AND DANCE PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES HISTORY AND DEVELOPEMENT OF THE PLASTIC DRUM HEAD THE ROPE TENSIONED DRUM IN AMERICA SNARE DRUM STEEL BAND/PAN TAMBOURIN PROVENCAL TAMBOURINE TRIANGLE VIBRAPHONE-VIBRAHARP-VIBES XYLOPHONE THE MARIMBA IN MEXICO AND RELATED AREAS