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Mark Shelton
Worship Training Instructor3 Courses • 170 Media Sessions

Mark Shelton

An active freelance musician and educational consultant, Mark's performance credits include Gateway Worship, Daystar Singers & Band, North Carolina Symphony, Dallas Winds, Strata Big Band, and Tin Roof Tango. Mark performs frequently as a percussion soloist and his solo recordings can be found on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify and his compositions are published by HoneyRock, Per-Mus, and Heritage Music Press. Mark writes the percussion column for Worship Musician (magazine) and blogs at Percussion For Worship (www.percussionforworship.blogspot.com). Learn more about Mark at his website: www.marksheltonmusic.com.

Courses by Mark Shelton (3)

Percussion For Worship: Technique & Tips
74 LessonsElectric Guitar

Percussion For Worship: Technique & Tips

Percussion For Worship: Technique & Tips

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Beyond The Beat: Percussion For Worship
38 LessonsDrums & Percussion

Beyond The Beat: Percussion For Worship

Beyond The Beat: Percussion For Worship

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Percussion Minute With Mark
55 LessonsDrums & Percussion

Percussion Minute With Mark

Percussion Minute With Mark

Start Course

Videos, Audio & Articles by Mark Shelton (170)

Tambourine: Tone, Technique, and Tipsebook

Tambourine: Tone, Technique, and Tips

The crisp shimmering sound of the tambourine is at home in modern worship music, traditional hymn arrangements, and choir anthem orchestrations. Brush up on the basics and learn a few advanced techniques as Mark Shelton shares from his wealth of tambourine kno

Savvy With The Shakerprint

Savvy With The Shaker

After a several hundreds of worship services, professional percussionist Mark Shelton has picked up a fair amount of shaker knowledge worth sharing. This article covers topics such as: Shaker choices Which shaker and when? Techniques Real life grooves and more

Praise Him With Ringing Metal: Triangle and Suspended Cymbalprint

Praise Him With Ringing Metal: Triangle and Suspended Cymbal

Two very common members of "The Ringing Metal Percussion Club" are the triangle and suspended cymbal. In this article, professional percussionist Mark Shelton presents some tips and techniques on using the triangle and suspended cymbal in worship.

Coloristic Considerationsprint

Coloristic Considerations

While percussion instruments can take on melodic, harmonic, and timekeeping functions, there are those spots where the unique tones are used specifically for the sake of "coloring" the texture of the music. In this article, professional percussionist Mark Shel

The Rise Of The Sticksprint

The Rise Of The Sticks

Certainly hand percussionists have long employed sticks and mallets on cowbells, woodblocks, timbales, and cymbals, but professional percussionist Mark Shelton perceives a bend toward greater use of stick-struck instruments in modern worship music. This articl

The Art of Not Playingprint

The Art of Not Playing

The art of not playing requires discipline and is an essential element of musical maturity. Percussionist Mark Shelton explains how less percussion can be the right decision.

How To Rock (Percussion)print

How To Rock (Percussion)

With a world of percussion from which to pick, what do you play when the worship band is really pumping out some driving straight-eighth ROCK? Percussionist Mark Shelton gives his opinion on what and how to play when you gotta lay down some rock.

Set-up Strategyprint

Set-up Strategy

A multi-percussion set-up should be ergonomically (work-friendly) designed so that you can meet the technical and musical requirements without wasted motion and energy. Check out percussionist Mark Sheltonʼs ideas on how to arrange your arsenal of gear.

Snare Drum 411: The Quick Guideprint

Snare Drum 411: The Quick Guide

With the recent trend for the hand percussionist to include more "stick percussion" in modern worship music, it might be time to consider adding the snare drum to your percussive sound palette. Percussionist Mark Shelton provides pointers on tone and technique

Staying Current With Your Skills: Update and Upgradeprint

Staying Current With Your Skills: Update and Upgrade

It is important to stay current with the constantly evolving state of modern worship music. That might mean learning new skills or brushing up on some dormant ones. Get some advice on how to stay current from percussionist Mark Shelton.

Cajon & Djembe: The Basicsebook

Cajon & Djembe: The Basics

Capable of thumping bass tones and crackling highs, the djembe and cajon are percussion brothers from different continents. Powerful, portable, and possessing a variety of timbres, these instruments are well-suited to a variety of musical settings. In this ebo

Memorizing Music: Beyond Brute Force and Repetitionprint

Memorizing Music: Beyond Brute Force and Repetition

Investing practice time in a multipronged strategy to store music "between your ears" will foster your ability to perform from memory with greater confidence. In this article, professional percussionist Mark Shelton shares several methods to memorize music and

Fingers Exercisevideo

Fingers Exercise

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton shares an easy exercise to develop strength and dexterity in your fingers.

Flam Positioningvideo

Flam Positioning

Whether youʼre playing drum set or percussion, you need a good flam tone. Professional percussionist Mark Shelton breaks it down in this lesson.

One Hand For Even Tonevideo

One Hand For Even Tone

Learn about producing a consistent tone from professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Snare Throw-Off Positionvideo

Snare Throw-Off Position

Professional Percussionist Mark Shelton gives practical suggestions on where to position the snare throw-off.

Matched Gripvideo

Matched Grip

The matched grip demonstrated by professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Rimshot Gripvideo

Rimshot Grip

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton shows you how to grip the stick for a solid rimshot.

Traditional Gripvideo

Traditional Grip

Go "Old School" with your left hand. Professional percussionist Mark Shelton demonstrates "The Thompson Grip."

Crush Rollvideo

Crush Roll

Learn the two hand technique for playing the crush roll with professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Buzz Rollvideo

Buzz Roll

Check out these tips from professional percussionist Mark Shelton on developing a concert roll.

Pillow Practice For Double Strokesvideo

Pillow Practice For Double Strokes

Develop your double stroke technique in this lesson with professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Cross Stick Rim Shot: The Sweet Spotvideo

Cross Stick Rim Shot: The Sweet Spot

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton shares a simple tip to help you pop the cross stick rim shot every time.

Headed Tambourine Basicsvideo

Headed Tambourine Basics

Grip, position, and striking techniques for the headed tambourine with professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Tambourine Timbresvideo

Tambourine Timbres

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton discusses factors affecting the timbre of the tambourine and selecting an appropriate tone quality.

Fundamentals Of The Flamprint

Fundamentals Of The Flam

The flam can be used in a variety of musical situations on many members of the percussion family. In this article, professional percussionist Mark Shelton has a few simple steps that can move you toward more consistent flam tone and technique.

Clavesvideo

Claves

A good tone on the claves is easy when you have the correct grip as demonstrated by professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

The Launching Padvideo

The Launching Pad

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton shares an easy-to-make device that will help you out in a tight transition.

Cymbals: Ring or Choke?video

Cymbals: Ring or Choke?

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton guides you on what to do AFTER the crash.

Cymbals: Basic Crashvideo

Cymbals: Basic Crash

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton shows you how to improve your crash with "The Big Three."

Cymbals: Primingvideo

Cymbals: Priming

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton shows a simple method to get the metal moving for a better crash.

Cymbals: The Gripvideo

Cymbals: The Grip

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton demonstrates the importance of the thumb in gripping the crash cymbals.

The Vibraslapvideo

The Vibraslap

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton gives you some playing tips (and history) on this fun instrument known as the Vibraslap (tm).

Cymbals: The Forte Piano Crashvideo

Cymbals: The Forte Piano Crash

A simple technique shown by professional percussionist Mark Shelton that allows for a true forte piano dynamic on the crash cymbals.

The Cabasavideo

The Cabasa

Striking, scraping, and shaking are all methods of sound production on the cabasa. Check out some possibilities with professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Suspended Cymbal Basicsvideo

Suspended Cymbal Basics

Learn some suspended cymbal techniques with professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Cowbell on Tambourinevideo

Cowbell on Tambourine

Play cowbell and tambourine at the same time with this cool technique from professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Shake Tambourine: Wrist Rotation Methodvideo

Shake Tambourine: Wrist Rotation Method

Learn the basic wrist rotation method for playing the Shake Tambourine from professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Shake Tambourine: Accentsvideo

Shake Tambourine: Accents

Learn the basic technique for playing accents on the Shake Tambourine from professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Shake Tambourine: Eliminating Extraneous Soundvideo

Shake Tambourine: Eliminating Extraneous Sound

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton teaches a basic technique for eliminating extraneous sound while playing the Shake Tambourine.

Shake Tambourine: Horizontal Slidevideo

Shake Tambourine: Horizontal Slide

Professional percussionists Mark Shelton demonstrates the horizontal slide technique on the Shaker Tambourine.

Shake Tambourine: Basicvideo

Shake Tambourine: Basic

Learn the basic technique for playing the Shake Tambourine from professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Shake Tambourine: Overviewvideo

Shake Tambourine: Overview

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton offers basic information on the Shake Tambourine.

Tambourine Thumb Rollvideo

Tambourine Thumb Roll

Learn about the tambourine thumb roll and two methods of playing the "landing note" from professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Tambourine Shake Rollvideo

Tambourine Shake Roll

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton demonstrates shake roll basics including attacks and releases.

Timpani Mallet Gripsvideo

Timpani Mallet Grips

The three major timpani mallet grips are demonstrated by professional percussionist Mark Shelton.

Maracas Technique # 1video

Maracas Technique # 1

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton demonstrates one method of playing the maracas.

Rhythm Trianglevideo

Rhythm Triangle

Professional percussionist Mark Shelton shares information on playing rhythm triangle.