The Multiverse (6 Multi-Percussion Solos for a Small Room)

The Multiverse is a collection of 6 diverse, challenging multi-percussion solos with an accessible, compact setup that expose performers to new styles, meters, and coordination demands. Each solo features, portable setups, flexible difficulty, foot coordination, creative freedom, common instruments, and are small room-friendly.

Genre: Multi-Percussion Collection | # of Players: 1
Series: Collection
Level: Intermediate to Medium Advanced | Duration: 22:40 total

Instrumentation
Low Drum
Snare Drum
Stool/Drum Set Throne
Low Wood Sound
High Wood Sound
Low Dry Metal Sound
High Dry Metal Sound
Low Resonant Metal Sound
High Resonant Metal Sound
Ride Cymbal
Splash or Stacked Cymbal
Bell
Left Foot Sound
Right Foot Sound

Program Notes

The Multiverse: 6 Multi-Percussion Solos for a Small Room features a wide range of styles, grooves, and colors explored on a compact setup. The title of this collection is a playful nod to Spiderman, from which I have often used Uncle Ben’s quote, “With great power comes great responsibility,” to remind students that they control their musical journey. Teachers may guide, but it is up to students to take the steps toward becoming the musicians and educators they aspire to be.

My goal with The Multiverse was to create diverse, challenging works on an accessible set-up, exposing performers to new styles, meters, and coordination demands. To keep the collection consistent, I set six guiding rules:

1. Portable set-ups: Each solo can be moved by one person in two trips or two people in one.

2. Flexible difficulty: Performers may add or remove foot patterns, scaling pieces from intermediate to advanced.

3. Foot coordination: Most solos integrate feet to bridge the common gap between hand and foot development, preparing students for both multi-percussion and drum set.

4. Creative freedom: While I provide a model set-up, performers are encouraged to choose their own sound colors using a reference diagram.

5. Common instruments: Most parts use gear found in school programs (snare, tom, cowbells, jam blocks, cymbals, etc.). Less typical instruments, like tings and melodica, are optional and may be substituted.

6. Small room-friendly: Compact set-ups fit in practice rooms without monopolizing the space.

The Multiverse offers students practical, imaginative, and scalable entry points into the world of multiple percussion performance.

A special “thank you” to Stephen F. Austin State University, Dr. Gary Wurtz (Dean of Fine Arts), and Dr. J.D. Salas (Chair of the School of Music) for supporting the sabbatical that made these solos and performance tour possible. AXE ‘EM JACKS!!

– Brad Meyer

Performed by Dr. Brad Meyer