For a timpani noobie...When you see a roll on a timpani do you buzz the roll or do you do fast single strokes to acheive the roll sound? Because at my school it seems that doing buzzes is what to do, but on the cavies 2005 in the lot video the timpanist uses fast single strokes. Thanks for the help.

Always single strokes. Buzzes don't make the characteristic sound as you'll notice when you use singles.

Be sure to use the French grip, which is great for singles. On the lower drum you'd roll a bit slower because the head resonates, higher drums would require much faster rolls because it resonates less. good roll technique on timpani is really just a huge experiment. You have to really work on it before it'll be good.

thanks man that will help a lot.

One doesn't have to use French grip in order to play rolls. Althought, French grip can be more favorable to legato and soft playing while German/American grip can be favorable for broader / more powerful sound; It's not a bad idea to learn it and possibly add it to your percussion embouchure repetitore (lol), but timpani rolls don't mean to default to "French grip". Many great players and educators like Saul Goodman and Roland Kohloff (to name a few) don't play with French grip and they're playing is fine and get the job done (IMO)

I added an article (click on the attachment) I found a few years ago I give to my beginning students as a reference.

Once you looked through there than check this out sometime : http://www.pearldrum.com/03_nuupdts/edu/articles/student/freer.html

I agree with everyone. Definitely the single stroke rolls. I finally got to see our new freshman play at the concert the other day, and one of them was doing double stroke or buzz rolls on the timpani. I almost died.

Of course Saul doesn't use French grip, he's passed away.

Saul actually created the American grip. I am comfortable using all 3 grips, however my former timpani instructor studied under Saul at Juilliard so I play using American grip. To me, it is the perfect combination of French and German grip.

About the rolls, remember also that the quieter the dynamic, the slower the roll can be. You are simply trying to maintain the sound so focus on smooth strokes over speed. Speed will come with work.

So has Roland, lol. I should have put "Was" instead of "is". Sorry that I didn't catch that before.

I'm a big pusher for the American grip as well. It focuses the legato of the French stroke while easing the "awkwardness" of the uncommon wrist bend for that stroke.

I think doing the fast single strokes gives you the best sounding roll on a timpani.

I've never really heard of someone do a buzz roll on a timpani

The strokes do not have to be fast. You are trying to sustain the tone, not make it rhythmic.