UD percussion instructor authors book, creates mallets

James Ancona, assistant director of the Blue Hen Marching Band

11:22 a.m., Jan. 8, 2004--Timpani, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, orchestra bells—once only found in the orchestra pit, they are all now standard on the football field.

These instruments, collectively called the "pit" or "front ensemble," have become an integral part of the modern drum corps and marching band.

And now, James Ancona, assistant director of the Blue Hen Marching Band, director of the basketball Pep Band and co-director of the Symphonic Band, and colleague Jim Casella, performer and percussion arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, have written “Up Front” a book examining the components of a successful front ensemble. The book is meant to be an all-encompassing guide for pit members and educators of all experience levels.

The authors delve into various front ensemble instruments, their ranges, techniques, arrangements, exercises, care, transportation and teaching practices.

Ancona and Casella, who have instructed and arranged for drum corps' most musical and innovative percussion ensembles, have combined their "pit knowledge" into one complete resource. “Up Front” explores every aspect of today's front ensemble, from technique and musicianship to arranging and instructing.

In addition, Ancona has become one of only four marching percussion instructors to create a signature mallet line.

Last April, he worked with Innovative Percussion, one of the largest mallet companies in the world, to make prototypes of mallets for marching ensembles. He tested them with the Santa Clara Vanguard last summer and with the UD Marching Band this fall. These mallets are now officially the James Ancona signature series and will be sold in North America, Asia, South America and Europe. There are seven models in the series designed for marching ensembles.

Ancona received his bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his master's degree in performance from Indiana University, where he was awarded the prestigious performer's certificate. He is an arranger and instructor for Star of Indiana and the Santa Clara Vanguard. Several of his percussion arrangements appear on Star of Indiana's "Brass Theater" compact discs published by Tap Space Publications.

Article by Barbara Garrison

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