Basic Timpani Grip
The timpani grip is similar to those for the playing snare drum or mallet percussion. You are going to have the fulcrum and the other fingers are going to loosely wrap around the stick. The stick should rest in the palm.
Snare drum technique has the have the fulcrum up 1/3 of the way of the stick. With timpani sticks, you want to have more of a top heavy feeling to the grip. The fulcrum should be closer to the end of the "butt" of the stick. Your Last three fingers of hand should lightly curl around mallet shaft. Be sure to hold the mallet firmly, not tightly. The Grip should not restrict freedom of motion of mallet during rebound. Your elbows should be slightly out away from the sides of the body. Finally, the right and left hand grips should be mirror images of each other.
There are three different grips to play the timpani. Explore how to form these grips using the links below.
Snare drum technique has the have the fulcrum up 1/3 of the way of the stick. With timpani sticks, you want to have more of a top heavy feeling to the grip. The fulcrum should be closer to the end of the "butt" of the stick. Your Last three fingers of hand should lightly curl around mallet shaft. Be sure to hold the mallet firmly, not tightly. The Grip should not restrict freedom of motion of mallet during rebound. Your elbows should be slightly out away from the sides of the body. Finally, the right and left hand grips should be mirror images of each other.
There are three different grips to play the timpani. Explore how to form these grips using the links below.