Drum and Percussion Setups

"The main challenge that I found with this show was the very quick instrument and stick changes. Having a good pair of swizzle sticks is necessary to go from tambourine to timpani and sometimes rolls on the concert bass drum."

"The real impetus of this book is the timpani. It is definitely the driving force for the percussion inBack to the Future and it requires a big articulate sound and once again Yamaha with the Evans Orchestral White Opaque Heads just deliver."

"The core of this simple layout conforms to the usual basic setup I’ve used for many years: timps to left, bells, then vibes with xylophone stacked over, you’ll find this in 90% of my layouts."

"The orchestra was stationed in the theater's rehearsal studio next to the main stage, and was considered a part of the set. We were set up and lit as if we were in John Williams' studio, and the audience could pass by and see us before and after."

Sal Mazzotta's setup for the World Premiere of Here You Come Again, a new Dolly Parton Musical, at the Delaware Theatre Company, in Wilmington, Delaware.

"I love playing this show because the music is timeless. I grew up listening to these songs and am still amazed by how well they hold up. This was a period of song writing that produced an unbelievable amount of classic hits."

"The timpani tunings are the real challenge of The Little Mermaid. Changing pitches must be done by feel, that was my biggest challenge. Memorizing the mallet parts was also very necessary."

"As you can see in the pictures, I prefer to have as much 'stuff' right in front of me, as close as possible. Because there are so many instruments close in, I have mounted a music stand off of the tom mount.