As a timpanist, I've found numerous examples of different ensembles with a variety of timpanists; many play while standing, but I've also found that a majority perform while seated on a throne.

When I play, I feel much more in control when I'm standing. I can tune the pedal exactly where I want it; the seat makes me feel a little less certain as to how precisely I can set the pedal. When on the throne, it feels like more is up to the whim of the swivel on the chair rather than the concrete solidity of my feet. When I'm tuning one drum while playing another, I feel that keeping a solid foot on the ground allows me to maintain a certain sovereignty in my technique. When playing seated, it takes a little bit more of a balancing act for me to keep my playing consistent.

I was just wondering as to who prefers what and why.

I prefer sitting down. If you're taller than most, sitting helps improve your technique (better playing area on the mallets). Also, in some more challenging music, you might need to tune more than one drum while still playing. That might be hard to do, unless, of course, you can float.

I never really had the chance to play timpani in school, but generally whoever was playing sat on this tallish stool that we had in the band room.

I mostly prefer standing, but if the piece dictates, I'll sit down.

Definitely sitting. When you're standing, there's not really a guarantee that your hands are at a consistent height (because most people are taller than they need to be to play timpani, so they end up having to crouch or lean some). Also, with standing, there's the issue of pedalling the timpani mid-passage, or pedalling more than one drum at once. People that normally stand will sit when playing something like Bartok Concerto for Orchestra where you have to have both feet to tune, but to me, that doesn't make sense, because then you're likely to have an entirely different sound when seated than you would when standing. However, when I'm sitting I'm not usually putting my entire weight on the stool with my feet on whatever sort of footrest the stool has; most often I'm sitting far forward on the stool with my feet still on the floor, or my feet are resting on the pedals (of course, if you play balanced action this is a problem, but if you're on Dresden pedals it's not).

There are, of course, fine players that play both ways, but I personally prefer sitting.

I prefer to sit. In the ensembles I've played in, I usually get parts where I'm constantly changing pitch (and they're often impossible to accomplish while standing). Plus, I'm taller, so it's easier for me to maintain good technique while sitting.

sitting seems much easier to change pitch, but for those who switch instruments a lot during the concert season in high schools standing seems to be the first natural thing to do- although not as beneficial (IMO). I also think it's easier to sit for playing technique wise.

I prefer to stand.

maybe it's just because I'm not used to sitting, but when I do, I always hit the rim.
and it's easier for me to move around while standing.

i think sitting is much easire because when you are standing you cant tune 2 timpani at once. also if you are a taller person it might be uncomfortable to be reaching down so far to play those long rolls.

I vote standing. I like movement.

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yea thats exactly how i am.

I've always stood. I've never been in a situation which required tuning more than one drum simultaneously while playing at the same time but I have had to tune all the drums during a rest. Standing is just more natural for me I guess, I've never understood the advantage to sitting but I'm starting to see it from this thread.

Sitting, although movement is great I prefer to be able to tune multiple drums at the same time. However, in most ensemble literature I'll sit if there's a throne, stand if there isn't.

I think stool for pedalling notes. No chair for intese fast passages

Sitting at the timpani is the preferred (and generally prescribed) method of playing the timpani. I have never encountered a single professional timpanist who stands while performing. When in high school, I always stood simply because there was no other option -- no stools! That seems to be a common problem with the majority of high schools.

When you sit to play the timpani, your body and hands remain in a central pivot, letting you arrange the timpani around you so that you will always hit the sweet spot on the head. It also allows for you to tune multiple drums at the same time.

As a teacher, what I have encountered most often is that students do not sit on the stool correctly. Imagine that the stool is more like a table top, and that you are leaning against the table. You are not actually sitting directly on top of the stool, but using it more for balance while keeping both feet on the floor. This allows you to use your feet as leverage to move your body around the drums, but also gives you the ability to change pitches quickly on multiple drums.

If you've never had to change two drums at the same time, just wait. Play enough music and you will come across this problem more often than not.

Rick Holmes, Saul Goodman, Cloyd Duff, John Tafoya, Tim Adams. Those are the ones that popped in to my head. They all stand when they play.

I used to study with Rick when I was younger and he's no a fan of sitting at all. He understands that it is sometimes necessary, but he'll only sit when he has long enough rests.

Tim Genis, principal of the Boston Symphony/Pops also stands. Todd Miller, principal of Pacific Symphony, sits.

It really comes down to personal preference. I sit at the timpani for all of the reasons that I listed above. That is how I was taught and how I prefer. If you are comfortable standing and playing, have at it. If you want to try sitting, go ahead. The vast majority of the percussionists that I have dealt with prefer to sit, but try out both ways and find out what is most comfortable for you.

To me, it really doesn't matter. As long as the stool is high enough to were it doesnt effect the sound, then Im good with sitting, because you can change multiple pitches at once.

I prefer sitting, because I think it makes more sense, at least in a concert setting. It's a lot more comfortable for me, especially after I've been standing up for an entire concert.

As a former two-year timpanist for my high school marching band, orchestra, concert band and percussion ensembles, I am a strong advocate for the timpanist to stand and remaining standing during their performances.

Granted, I am only 5'7" and do not have the same problems of playing as some of my taller colleagues, but I feel as though the timpanist must demonstrate a presence in the percussion section and that can only be accomplished by standing.

The three-pedal tunings and the mid-piece movements have been and should continue be done standing--as long as the player puts the effort into it, it can be done!

I've seen too many high school marching bands (sadly including my former one) turn to this sitting-down position non-sense for people that are shorter than I am. And of course, they always have the excuse of "oh, it's the tunings" and "it's the new modern technique".

Well to make it very clear, when was the last time anyone ever heard of a sitting timpanist being a timpani legend on a name-by name basis in the concert, orchestra and marching band fields?

NONE!

End of that, ladies and gentlemen.

I played timpani last year and i stood up but this year our timpani player is going to be seated.

I prefer standing, I have a feel of more power. I can control more of the feel, and I can get more involved in the music.

I've only played timpani for 1 song during concert band, I didn't even know sitting was an option. Is the player's chair on a raised platform or something when they're seated? I know when I sat down when I wasn't playing, the things were about chest level, way to high to play comfortably.

Usually a stool, steal one from the orchestra when they're not looking.

Certainly sitting, there's no doubt about it. You may need a very tall stool, mine is a target swivel bar stool that ran me about 60 bucks, before that I used a pork pie throne jacked all the way up and I decided based on my technique that I needed a higher stool. But often times you need to be ready to use both of your feet, there are often passages that involve tuning more than one drum very quickly. Remember, sitting is part of your overall technique.

Umm, have you ever played Bartok Concerto for Orchestra or any of his Piano Concerti or his second violin concerto, or Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celeste? Or Barber's Medea's Dance of Vengeance? Parts like those are NOT possible standing. Every timpanist who claims to be a "standing timpanist" (ie. Tim Genis of the Boston Symphony) sits while playing those parts.



Cloyd Duff (former Cleveland Orchestra). Paul Yancich (Cleveland Orchestra). Mark Yancich (Atlanta Symphony). Don Liuzzi (Philadelphia Orchestra). Oh, and all the other timpanists who stand normally but sit for the tuning passages (all the students of the Saul Goodman lineage).

pwned.


I feel more comfortable standing, but that's because my junior school band director made me stand... It's whatever makes you more comfortable. The more comfortable you are, the better you are likely to play.

I think it´s important to be able to do both, it all depends on what kind of music you´re playing and what kind of expression you want to achieve. If you choose to stand you need to make sure that you´re standing up with good posture and that you´re still able to play with a good sound where your sticks strike the drums in a correct angle. Personally I prefer to sit, I´m too tall to stand up and feel comfortable with what I´m doing. Also I feel like I have more contact with the instruments when I sit, since I can keep my feet on the pedals at all times and really be a part of the instrument. This improves my intonation and how I "feel" the nuances of the instrument through my body. If I play baroque music I might prefer to stand, since no tuning is necessary throughout the pieces. Posture isn´t really a big problem in this case, since I´ll lean forward a little bit naturally when the music calls for it. As long as I´m aware that I´m doing it it´s ok. Some times when I play runs or passages that requires a lot of movement I´ll stand, and also if I´m playing solo literature that requires a lot of stage presence. However I´ll sit for orchestral playing when 32nd note runs are not one of my main concerns. To clear up a little bit: Take ALL things into consideration, and figure out what works best withing the situation.

This debate could go on forever, it's the timpani version of "matched or traditional".

My personal preference is to stand. For whatever reason, I feel like my level of performance isn't as professional when I sit, regardless of what the piece dictates. Standing just has a better stage presence to me.

For instance, Carter's "March" (the audition staple for my private students), which I've played more than I'd like to admit; I couldn't imagine sitting while trying to perform it.