Percussionist/composer Dave Black received his Bachelor of Music in percussion performance from California State
University, Northridge. While at Northridge, he studied with notable teachers and performers such as Louie Bellson,
Joel Leach, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Schaeffer, Jerry Steinholtz and the late Nick Ceroli. He has traveled around
the world with a variety of entertainers and shows, performing and recording with such artists as Alan King, Robert
Merrill, June Allyson, Anita O'Day, Pete Jolly, Frankie Capp, Gordon Brisker, Kim Richmond, Victor Lewis, Jerry
Hey and Steve Huffsteter.
A prolific composer and arranger, more than 50 of his compositions and arrangements have been published by Alfred
Publishing, Barnhouse, CPP/Belwin, TRN, Highland/Etling and Warner Brothers, and many of them have been recorded.
Mr. Black has written with, and for the bands of Louie Bellson, Sammy Nestico, Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew, Ed Shaughnessy,
Gordon Brisker and the C.S.U., Northridge Jazz Ensemble. He has been the recipient of many awards and commissions,
including 12 consecutive ASCAP Popular Composer Awards (for his contributions to the symphonic and concert repertoires)
and two Grammy participation/nomination certificates--one for his performance contribution on Anita O'Day's Grammy-nominated
album In a Mellow Tone, and the other for his contribution as album-track composer on Louie Bellson's Grammy-nominated
album Airmail Special. In addition, many of his compositions have been used as source/background music on numerous
TV shows including All My Children, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, General Hospital, Ellen, Grace Under Fire, Nightline,
Roseanne and Good Morning America.
Mr. Black is the co-author of several best-selling books published by Alfred Publishing Company: Alfred's Drum
Method, Books 1 & 2 (the world's current best seller); Alfred's Beginning Drumset Method; Contemporary Brush
Techniques; Alfred's Beginning Snare Drum Duets; Cymbals: A Crash Course; A Jazz Diary (chosen for the 1998-2000
National Federation of Music Club's Junior Festival Bulletin); Drumset Independence & Syncopation; and The
Essential Dictionary of Orchestration. His books and music are used and performed by tens of thousands of young
people all over the world. He has also written countless articles, book reviews and concert reviews for prominent
magazines such as Down Beat, The Instrumentalist, Modern Drummer, Modern Percussionist, Drums and Drumming, Drum
Tracks, Grammy Pulse, Jazz Educators Journal and Music Connection--in addition to being a featured subject in many
of them.
As an active member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Mr. Black served on the National Board of Directors
for six years, was a member of the Sustaining Members Advisory Council, and was selected to host/chair the 1991
Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Anaheim, California. He presently serves as the Director of
Instrumental Music for Alfred Publishing Company.
Summary
At last, an orchestration book tailor-made for the classroom musician on a budget. Any teacher, student or professional
musician, wether a composer, orchestrator, arranger, performer or enthusiast will find this thoroughly comprehensive
dictionary full of the most needed information on over 150 instruments. Designed for quick and easy reference,
the Essential Dictionary of Orchestration includes those much-needed instrument ranges, general characteristics,
tone quality descriptions, technical pitfalls, useful scoring tips and much more!
