Ukena Music

09/07/2025

From Almost “40 Rudiments” for Mallets, The Single Ratamacue.

From a collection of exercises I developed called, Almost "40 Rudiments" for Mallets. This was one way I used to teach my mallet players, the rudiment, Singl...

09/07/2025

The Five Stroke Roll from Almost "40 Rudiments" for Mallets.

From Almost "40 Rudiments" for Mallets. This was another way for me to teach the rudiment, the five stroke roll, to my mallet players and provide a way to g...

09/07/2025

Almost 40 Rudiments for Mallets was my way to get the front ensemble to learn rudiments and the Bayer to get on mallets.

Here's the Paradiddle.

From Almost "40 Rudiments" for Mallets. This was another way to teach the rudiment, Single Paradiddle, to my mallet players and get my snare and battery pla...

11/04/2025

I wrote this ("Alley's Spring Storm") ten years ago for a friend that presented a session either at TMEA or TBA featuring all of the trap instruments, (tambourine, temple blocks, wood blocks, cowbells, cymbals, bass drum, chimes, etc.)

I wanted to show a spring storm on its way. It started with a gentle breeze through rolled suspended cymbals and gongs while different grandfather clocks keep time. Chimes let you know what time it was. Listen and you'll know.

The wind picks up (more cymbals and gongs) before the crack of lightning and thunder foreshadows the beginning of Tornado "Alley's" high winds starts tossing debris around and lots of it.

Finally the wind calm down but not before hearing the damage. The grandfather clocks don't keep good time. One chime note is just not right. The wind continues to die down with decrescendo of the rolling cymbals and gong finally to fade away, leaving the destruction behind.

Percussion ensemble written by Todd Ukena. Premiered at John Hinojosa's TBA clinic in San Antonio July 28, 2014. From left to right, performers are: Lou B...

26/03/2025

I used upholstery thread to wrap this break after gluing it together. (If you do this, wrap it tightly.). I then put a thin layer of glue on the thread.

Dries in 5-10 minutes and ready to play.

25/03/2025

I'm preparing surgery. This type of break can be repaired saving students the cost of a new pair of mallets.

(I believe that it can make the shaft of the mallet stronger.)

19/01/2025

How I start teaching 16th notes long, long ago.

20/09/2024

I found four pair of worn out mallets so....I spent the evening rewrapping them while I was in a green mood.

Turned out decently, don't you think.

31/07/2024

If it's your birthday today then here is this week's treat.