MSU Department of Music professor authors third book
Contact: Camille Carskadon
A Mississippi State University professor has penned his third book, one he hopes will close a gap in music literature and help musicians at any skill level improve.
Jason Baker, a Department of Music professor, explains that his most recent publication, “Sequential Studies for Rudimental Snare Drum,” was written with almost every percussionist in mind.
“The purpose of this book is to provide a structured method for practicing the 40 Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments. Presented in five sections, each focuses on a limited number of rudiments drawn from the roll, paradiddle, flam and drag categories. Each section consists of six etudes and concludes with a summary etude containing all rudiments utilized up to that point in the book.”
The idea for the book came to Baker in 2019 when he realized there was a gap in the literature in terms of a publication that presents new snare drum rudiments in each etude, but also reviews those previously taught in a systemized manner.
Baker uses this approach throughout the book and has written the final etude to utilize all 40 Percussive Arts Society International Snare Drum Rudiments. He began writing while teaching young, school-aged students in the MSU Community Music School. As the writing progressed, he began using it with his university students.
“It is my hope that this book will have a place, from beginning/intermediate students all the way to college students and professionals, either as a teaching text or addition to a player’s daily warmup. I even play out of it at the beginning of each day,” said Baker.
Baker also has published two other books, “15 Progressive Snare Drum Solos” (Drop6 Media, 2009) and “33 Elementary Timpani Etudes” (Honey Rock Publications, 2019). He is author of 29 music compositions and arrangements, as well as four solo albums and 18 journal articles.
Established in 1903, MSU’s College of Education is home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit www.educ.msstate.edu. The Department of Music is online at www.music.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.