Wasn't sure quite where to put this, so I figured I'd put it here and see what happens.

The WGI concert percussion group I'm directing is playing "Dystopia" by Jim Casella for our show this year. In the concert bass drum part, it is called to "achieve a groaning sound by rubbing a super ball across the large head of the bass drum". It says to use a "small, solid rubber ball that has enough 'tack' to give good friction against the head".

I have never used this technique before, and I was wondering if anybody has any tips as far as where to rub the ball across, what sort of ball you used, etc.

I have never tried that before, but now I want to! I imagine you would approach it like doing a thumb roll on a tambourine. Every concert bass drum I've ever played is a little bit different. You will have to experiment with different playing zones, amounts of pressure, ball types, and maybe even tuning or drums. That kind of exploration is one of my favorite things about being a percussionist. How many wind players get opportunities like that?

It is exactly like playing a thumb roll on a tambourine. You can even get the sound out of the bass drum with out a rubber ball. It just makes it easier. We are actually utilizing that sound this year in our show. I am teaching our students to use three fingers in a triangle shape but you can could also do it with just your thumb or rubber ball. You want to put your fingers/ball about 1/3 of the way in on the drum and then go directly across the drum to get the sound. Hope this helps.

I've had the most success by drilling a hole in the super ball, and gluing a SMALL WOODEN DOWEL into the ball, so that it actually resembles a mallet. By holding the dowel and not the ball, the ball is able to bounce freely against the head at a high rate, achieving the "lion's roar" effect.

I have a spot where I wanted a thunder-like rumble effect in this winter's show. I am going to try this out on Saturday.

And people think percussion is just hitting things. Pft!