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