marimba boot camp slides - …€¦ · • book/repertoire list (see handout) ... – vic firth 4...

MarimbaBootCamp

Dr.AdamGrohGracelandUniversity

SpecialThanks!

Overview

•  SetupConsideraBons•  TechniqueandSoundProducBon•  MusicalityandInterpretaBon•  PedagogicalIssues•  Resources

SetupConsideraBons

•  InstrumentPosiBon– Height– EnsemblePlacement

•  MusicStandPlacement– Tessitura– ReadingSkills

•  BodyPosiBoning– Tessitura

TechniqueandSoundProducBon

•  Grip– 2malletcomponents•  Properfulcrumpoint

– 4malletcomponents•  Don’tchokeuponoutermallets•  Outermalletisatfirstknuckleofmiddlefinger,notinwebbing•  Don’tcollapseindexfingers•  “French”gripbasis–thumbsontop

IntervalChanges

TechniqueandSoundProducBon

•  Stroke– Wristorientedstroke– Defaultshouldbefluidandlegato–notpiston– Malletsandwristsshouldbelow– AnBcipatethenextnote(s)

•  Intervalchangesonupstroke•  ArBculaBon– MalletChoice

•  Harder=MorearBculaBon•  Heavier=Morevolume

ArBculaBon

TechniqueandSoundProducBon

•  BarPlacement– Twolevelsofaccuracy•  Correctpitch•  Correctplacementonbar

•  Bodymovement/choreography– Centerbodyinplayingrange– AnBcipatelargeleaps/movementswithbodyfirst– Avoid“chasing”themallets

BodyMovement

•  Ozley–FlourishforMarimbaandWindEnsemble

BodyMovement

MusicalityandInterpretaBon

•  ChoosingsBckings– Avoiddoubles/consecuBvemallets– Doubleinsameplane,orfromuppermanualtolowermanual

MusicalityandInterpretaBon

•  InterpreBngrolls– LHleadisdefault– “Blocking”chords– Tipsforsmoothrolls– CreaBngphrasingandmoBon– MalletselecBon

Rolls

MusicalityandInterpretaBon

•  Voicing– Clarityofindividualvoiceswithinanoveralltexture

– O^enmelodyvs.accompaniment– Usedynamics,arBculaBon,andtouchtobalanceindividualvoicesinaparBcularpassage

Voicing

Voicing

Voicing

MusicalityandInterpretaBon

•  CreaBngsustain– Barshaveafixedsustainlength– LengthisallaboutpercepBon– Audiencewillfollowthemallets

•  Dealingwithspace– Becalmandconfident– Don’tbeinahurry/rushed– “Prep,step,breath”

SpaceandSustain

PedagogicalIssues•  Developingtechniqueoutsideofrepertoire– Warmups,exercises,andfundamentals

•  RecommendedLiterature– Avoidtheimpulsetorushthroughrepertoire

•  PracBceTechniques–  SlowpracBcetechniques– Handsapart–  “Chunking”– Workinginreverse–  Blocking(again)

HandsApart

Chunking

Blocking

Resources

•  Book/RepertoireList(seehandout)•  OnlineResources– PercussionAxiomTV(TomBurri_)– VicFirth4MalletMarimbaSeries(JuliaGaines)– Marimbalogy– VicFirthPercussion101

Thanksforcoming!

Allslidesandhandoutswillbeavailableat:

www.adamgroh.com