Strain is a respected percussionist and professor and historian of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS). The title's use of both "drummer" and "percussionist" is significant, indicating that the work is meant not only for symphonic/concert percussionists but also for teachers and performers in commercial genres. The book is also intended as a resource for those who need to communicate with percussionists, such as conductors, composers, and arrangers. The dictionary is devoted largely to the names of instruments, mallets, and other equipment, along with terms for playing techniques and instructions one is likely to find written in percussion music. Entries are included from all Western languages as well as English. Brief entries are included for important manufacturing companies, and for inductees into the PAS Hall of Fame. There are 15 appendixes, the most useful of which address preparing for college and professional auditions, list typical audition repertoire, examine notes on marking percussion parts for rehearsal, and offer a table of standard ranges of pitched percussion instruments. All in all a welcome resource that will serve its intended audiences well. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.

Choice Reviews

This book is highly recommended for college libraries as well as for individual use by performers and teachers. Congratulations to the author and publisher for bringing this important publication to the reading public.

NACWPI Journal

This is more than a dictionary: James A. Strain’s work as historian for the Percussive Arts Society has helped him to provide percussionists across all genres with a thoroughly researched and annotated resource guide. Everything is included—from performance practices to foreign translations to instrument descriptions. It’s like having a Grove’s Dictionary specifically for percussionists.

Chris Deviney, principal percussionist, Philadelphia Orchestra

Strain has used his indefatigable work ethic, communication skills, and love of music to place the vast array of percussion worlds under one umbrella in this comprehensive dictionary. It is unique in not only its inclusion of terminology, people, and drum companies but also its photos and appendixes that provide great insight into teaching, auditioning, and drum-set notation. Thank you for sharing this with the percussion world!

Glenn Paulson, percussionist, member of United States Marine Band, and former Percussive Arts Society Symphonic Committee member