The 50 Etudes Project
Revisiting Portraits in Rhythm at Fifty
Fifty etudes. Fifty weeks.
A return to foundational repertoire at age fifty.
Discipline. Interpretation. Lifelong practice.
Why This Project?
In 2020, as the performance world paused, I returned to one of the foundational texts of my early training: Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony J. Cirone.
What began as a weekly discipline challenge became something more intentional. I committed to performing one etude per week for fifty consecutive weeks — revisiting the entire book at age fifty.
This was not about “getting through” an etude book. It was about reconnecting with fundamentals, creating structure during uncertainty, and modeling consistent artistic growth. Public accountability became part of the discipline. Every week, the work had to be done.
The gigs may pause. The discipline should not.
What This Project Explores
- Artistic longevity — Foundations remain relevant at every stage of a career.
- Structured weekly discipline — Consistency builds control and confidence.
- Interpretive decision-making — Etudes are not exercises; they are musical works.
- Foundational repertoire at every stage — The fundamentals that challenge us at fifteen still refine us at fifty.
These etudes remain some of the most musically demanding and musically rewarding works in the percussion repertoire. Stripped of accompaniment and orchestration, they demand clarity of touch, dynamic shaping, and architectural phrasing.
The Complete 50-Week Series
The full performance series is available below.
Fifty etudes. Fifty consecutive weeks. One disciplined arc.
Interpretation Over Perfection
This series was never intended to present “definitive” performances.
Each etude became a study in interpretive choice:
Where does tension build?
How does articulation shape contour?
What tempo allows the phrase to breathe?
How does stick choice affect tone and projection?
Different snares, different sticks, different rooms — all influence character. The goal was not uniformity, but awareness.
Accuracy matters. But musical shaping matters more.
If you are studying these works, use these performances as a starting point — not a template. Agree. Disagree. Experiment. Craft your own version.
That is the art.
For Educators and Students
For Educators
This series can serve as:
A weekly studio assignment model
A listening and comparison tool
A discussion prompt for phrasing and architecture
A framework for structured long-term goals
For Students
Approach these etudes as music, not mechanics.
Don’t imitate — interpret.
Shape phrases intentionally.
Experiment with touch, tempo, and dynamic contour.
Listen critically and refine deliberately.
Fundamentals are not beginner material. They are lifelong material.
A Conversation with Anthony J. Cirone
As part of this project, I had the privilege of speaking directly with Anthony J. Cirone about his intentions for these works and their continued relevance in percussion education.
Understanding the composer’s perspective deepens the interpretive process. For anyone serious about studying Portraits in Rhythm, I strongly recommend engaging fully with both volumes and the pedagogical insights they offer.
Preparation Creates Freedom
Much of the preparation for this project happened at the kitchen table — score in hand, mapping phrasing and architecture with color.
Imagine if GPS directions were only shades of grey.
Color reveals contour. Direction. Shape.
Preparation creates clarity.
Clarity creates confidence.
Confidence creates freedom.
As one wise teacher put it:
“You don’t rise to the occasion — you sink to the level of your training.”
This project was a reminder that disciplined preparation remains the foundation of expressive performance.