Sheet Music by Percussion Music Composer Todd Ukena

The Vanguard $2.95

The Vanguard by Todd Ukena
(snare drum solo)

This solo had it’s inspirations from The Santa Clara Vanguard snare drum line back in the late 1970’s. I just remember this long buzz roll that the entire snare line was playing. (I think there were eight in the line at the time.) Ever so often they would accent a pulse of the roll. It sounded really cool and that idea became the beginning of “The Vanguard.”

It is important that sticking be followed in that certain rudiments are being used, sometimes on the beat, sometimes off the beat. Using the different areas of the drumhead will further emphasize the dynamics. Prepare the position of flams the note before they are played.

During the single stroke roll section, only get as fast as the accented section is comfortable to play. When you are opening up the roll, slow down so that eventually you are a playing taps at a quarter note rhythm that at the tempo of the beginning so it makes a smooth transition back to the A section.