MarimbaBootCamp
Dr.AdamGroh-GracelandUniversity
2017KansasMusicEducatorsAssociaConConferenceFebruary24,2017
Wichita,KS
SpecialThanks!
Overview
• SetupConsideraCons• TechniqueandSoundProducCon• MusicalityandInterpretaCon• PedagogicalIssues• Resources
SetupConsideraCons• InstrumentPosiCon– Height– EnsemblePlacement
• MusicStandPlacement– Centerstandinplayingrange– ReadingSkills
• Bodymovement/choreography– Centerbodyinplayingrange– AnCcipatelargeleaps/movementswithbodyfirst– Avoid“chasing”themallets
TechniqueandSoundProducCon
• Stroke– Wristorientedstroke– Defaultshouldbefluidandlegato–notpiston– Malletsandwristsshouldbelow– AnCcipatethenextnote(s)• Intervalchangesonupstroke
IntervalChanges
TechniqueandSoundProducCon
• ArCculaCon– MalletChoice• Harder=MorearCculaCon• Heavier=Morevolume
– Createdwithchangesinstrokespeedandgrippressure
ArCculaCon
TechniqueandSoundProducCon
• Twolevelsofaccuracy– Correctpitch– Correctbarplacement
BodyMovement
• Ozley–FlourishforMarimbaandWindEnsemble
BodyMovement
MusicalityandInterpretaCon
• ChoosingsCckings– Avoiddoubles/consecuCvemallets– Doubleinsameplane,orfromuppermanualtolowermanual
MusicalityandInterpretaCon
• InterpreCngrolls– LHleadisdefault– “Blocking”chords– Tipsforsmoothrolls• Rollspeedandgrippressure• Play“ontopofthebar”
– CreaCngphrasingandmoCon– MalletselecCon
Rolls
MusicalityandInterpretaCon
• Voicing– Clarityofindividualvoiceswithinanoveralltexture
– Obenmelodyvs.accompaniment– Usedynamics,arCculaCon,andtouchtobalanceindividualvoicesinaparCcularpassage
Voicing
Voicing
Voicing
MusicalityandInterpretaCon
• CreaCngsustain– Barshaveafixedsustainlength– LengthisallaboutpercepCon– Audiencewillfollowthemallets
• Dealingwithspace– Becalmandconfident– Don’tbeinahurry/rushed– “Prep,step,breath”
SpaceandSustain
PedagogicalIssues• Developingtechniqueoutsideofrepertoire– Warmups,exercises,andfundamentals
• RecommendedLiterature– Avoidtheimpulsetorushthroughrepertoire
• PracCceTechniques– SlowpracCcetechniques– Handsapart– “Chunking”– Workinginreverse– Blocking(again)
HandsApart
Chunking
Blocking
Blocking
Resources
• Book/RepertoireList(seehandout)• OnlineResources– PercussionAxiomTV(TomBurrid)– VicFirth4MalletMarimbaSeries(JuliaGaines)– Marimbalogy– VicFirthPercussion101
Thanksforcoming!
Allslidesandhandoutswillbeavailableat:www.adamgroh.com