How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Russ Nyberg

2 min read

Russ Nyberg's combined book setup for Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

"This version of the show is the reduced tour orchestration from the original orchestration used on Broadway. I'm covering both drum and percussion books, originally played by Broadway veteran percussionists Greg Landes and Dave Roth. The Yamaha DTX pad has been a life saver on being able to sound like 2 players. Often, I am hitting a gong patch while playing timpani or playing chime notes on top of a busy drum set part.

About 80% of the show is played with the 5A Multi Combo Sticks. There are so many moments where a suspended cymbal roll or timpani hit is snuck into the middle of a groove. It's been a real joy to play this show every year, as it has so many musical elements of big band, cartoon, orchestral and classic Broadway.

And playing a wonderful hall, like the Grand Ole Opry, has been a dream come true!"

Drums: Yamaha Maple Custom

22" Bass Drum
16" Floor Tom with Aquarian Texture Coated Head
13" Small Tom with Aquarian Texture Coated Head
12" Small Tom with Aquarian Texture Coated Head

Snare:

Pearl 5.5" Reference Maple Snare

Hardware:

DW 9000 BD Pedal
DW 5000 Hi Hat Pedal

Cymbals:

Sabian 21" AAX Raw Bell Dry Ride
Sabian 14" HHX Evolution Hats
Sabian 16" AAX Studio Crash
Sabian 18" AAX Studio Crash
Sabian 10" HH splash

Percussion:

Adams 26" and 29" Timpani
TreeWorks Tre35 Classic Chime
Miller Machine with large Alan Abel triangle
Miller Machine with small Alan Abel triangle
Finger Cymbal
LP Red Jam Block
LP Large Cow Bell
Caxixi Shakers (2)

Electronics:

Yamaha DTX Multi 12 Sampling Pad

Sticks/Mallets/Brushes:

Innovative IP-5A Multi Sticks
Innovative IP-L5A Legacy Series 5A sticks
Innovative IP-5AT 5A/Timpani Combo Sticks
Innovative GT-3 Medium Timpani Mallets
Innovative GT-2 Medium Soft Timpani Mallets
Innovative WBR-3 Medium Wire Wood Handle Brushes
Innovative JC-2SC James Campbell Hard Suspended Cymbal Mallet

Russ is a proud endorser of Innovative Sticks, and Aquarian Drumheads.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Regional - Russ Nyberg
December 2015

Russ Nyberg's combined book setup for Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

More Setups

Nice Work If You Can Get It - Eric Poland

Eric Poland's drum set setup for the Broadway revival of Nice Work If You Can Get It at the Imperial Theatre.

2 min read

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - David Thalmann

David Thalmann’s setup for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Murray Arts Guild - Murray Park Amphitheater, in Murray, Utah.

1 min read

Side Show - Mike Drake

Mike Drake's set up for Side Show at the Casa Mañana Theater, in Fort Worth, Texas.

3 min read

Articles

"My Way to Broadway" by Chihiro Shibayama

"Thursday, February 16th, 2017 was a special day. I was both excited and nervous as I stepped into SIR Studios in Manhattan to start the first orchestra rehearsal for the Broadway production of Miss Saigon."

7 min read

"Setting Up a New Broadway Percussion Book" by Bill Hayes

"When preparing a percussion book for a new Broadway show, we occasionally get the music in advance. That allows us to start our “treasure hunt” early, to have the right sounds ready, and to get a jump on the setup. But often, Broadway is the first appearance of the fully orchestrated show, and we have seen very little before the first rehearsal."

5 min read

"My Experiences Recording a Broadway Cast Album" by Jared Schonig

"The musical experience of recording a Broadway cast album ranges from easy to difficult depending on the circumstances. I find that the two factors that contribute most to the quality of the experience are: 1) how good the band is; and 2) how soon after you started the show you record the album"