Charlie Olvera on why excerpt study doesn’t make sense for percussionists:
You see, before the 20th century, the percussionist in the orchestral tradition occupies the role of a “second-class citizen” within the ensemble. Mahler explicitly instructs extra tuba players/double bass players to play extra parts in several of his symphonies… These were roles meant to be filled by non-percussionists, other orchestral musicians, who, one can be sure, had their OWN parts to worry about.
WILL KUHN 