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yea thats exactly how i am.

I've always stood. I've never been in a situation which required tuning more than one drum simultaneously while playing at the same time but I have had to tune all the drums during a rest. Standing is just more natural for me I guess, I've never understood the advantage to sitting but I'm starting to see it from this thread.

Sitting, although movement is great I prefer to be able to tune multiple drums at the same time. However, in most ensemble literature I'll sit if there's a throne, stand if there isn't.

I think stool for pedalling notes. No chair for intese fast passages

Sitting at the timpani is the preferred (and generally prescribed) method of playing the timpani. I have never encountered a single professional timpanist who stands while performing. When in high school, I always stood simply because there was no other option -- no stools! That seems to be a common problem with the majority of high schools.

When you sit to play the timpani, your body and hands remain in a central pivot, letting you arrange the timpani around you so that you will always hit the sweet spot on the head. It also allows for you to tune multiple drums at the same time.

As a teacher, what I have encountered most often is that students do not sit on the stool correctly. Imagine that the stool is more like a table top, and that you are leaning against the table. You are not actually sitting directly on top of the stool, but using it more for balance while keeping both feet on the floor. This allows you to use your feet as leverage to move your body around the drums, but also gives you the ability to change pitches quickly on multiple drums.

If you've never had to change two drums at the same time, just wait. Play enough music and you will come across this problem more often than not.

Rick Holmes, Saul Goodman, Cloyd Duff, John Tafoya, Tim Adams. Those are the ones that popped in to my head. They all stand when they play.

I used to study with Rick when I was younger and he's no a fan of sitting at all. He understands that it is sometimes necessary, but he'll only sit when he has long enough rests.

Tim Genis, principal of the Boston Symphony/Pops also stands. Todd Miller, principal of Pacific Symphony, sits.

It really comes down to personal preference. I sit at the timpani for all of the reasons that I listed above. That is how I was taught and how I prefer. If you are comfortable standing and playing, have at it. If you want to try sitting, go ahead. The vast majority of the percussionists that I have dealt with prefer to sit, but try out both ways and find out what is most comfortable for you.

To me, it really doesn't matter. As long as the stool is high enough to were it doesnt effect the sound, then Im good with sitting, because you can change multiple pitches at once.

I prefer sitting, because I think it makes more sense, at least in a concert setting. It's a lot more comfortable for me, especially after I've been standing up for an entire concert.