Percussion Midterm

What is the mallet keyboard grip?

Identical to snare drum matched grip except that it is closed.

How should the hands feel when playing mallet keyboard?

Hands must remain relaxed.

How should the hands be angled on mallet keyboard?

Cock elbows to the outside to help with accuracy.

How should the hands and wrists be positioned on mallet keyboard?

Hands are flat and wrists and hands are low to the keyboard.

Where should the left hand be positioned on mallet keyboard?

Close to the accidentals.

Where should the right hand be positioned on mallet keyboard?

Close to the natural notes.

What part of the body should stroke the mallet?

The wrist only; no arm.

What are three mallet keyboard stroke types?

Up/down stroke; rebound stroke; lift stroke.

How should mallet keyboard strokes move?

Strokes must be vertical; avoid knocking.

What is the rule for mallet height and hand height?

Mallets high means hands low.

What is the rule when mallets are low?

Hands should also be low.

What can extremely low mallets cause?

Injury.

What should move the hands from note to note on mallet keyboard?

The arm

What are lateral and rotary techniques?

Advanced techniques that are necessary.

How should a player change tessitura on mallet keyboard?

Shuffle from side to side; never cross legs.

Where should a mallet strike a bar naturally?

Just off-center.

Can the left or right hand used in a playing area change?

Yes; it may change when moving from high or middle notes to low notes

Where should a player strike for legato?

Use center playing rather than off-center.

Should center playing be used all the time?

No; the notes say not to do this all the time.

What are nodes on a mallet bar?

Places where strings go through the bars.

How many nodes does each bar have according to the notes?

Two.

What sound are nodes used to produce?

Staccato sound.

Where are accidentals played on the bars?

On the bend of the bars.

Where should orchestra bells be played?

In the center because the bars are very small.

What is the default sticking policy for easy or medium parts?

Use common-sense sticking and set up leaps.

How can a piano help with mallet keyboard sticking?

It can help figure out stickings.

What is the standard sticking approach?

Alternate your hands.

What type of playing should be absolutely avoided?

One-handed playing.

What is alternating with shifting?

Lifting hands to get to a note while still alternating.

Why use doublings in mallet keyboard sticking?

To avoid large shifts and crossing.

Should a player cross arms while playing mallet keyboard?

Never.

What can doubling do to the grip and accuracy?

It tightens the grip and reduces accuracy.

How should a player double from an accidental to a natural?

Use the sticking pattern that maintains comfortable hand movement and accuracy; the notes contrast an incorrect pattern with a preferred pattern.

What type of roll is mentioned for single-stroke rolls?

Single-stroke rolls with the left or right hand.

Which instruments are listed as not having rolls?

Marimba; xylophone; bells; vibes.

What is kinesthetic perception in reading music?

Being able to sight-read while keeping the eyes on the music.

What is the first strategy for keeping eyes on the music?

Keep consistent hand position

What should remain consistent when reading music on mallet instruments?

Keep the angles the same.

What is the second strategy for reading music?

Do technical exercises while looking at the bars.

What is important when doing technical exercises while reading?

Stay completely relaxed.

What is the third strategy for reading music?

Do reading and motion exercises so the hands know where the notes are.

What kind of vision should be used to find notes while reading?

Peripheral vision.

What is the fourth strategy for reading music?

Gauge the position of the next note based on what you last played.

What should players do with their hands while reading?

Keep hands low.

What should players avoid while hunting for notes?

Tension.

When is it acceptable to look down at the instrument?

On long notes.

What should a player know when looking down on long notes?

One hand is truly focused; know the keys.

What should teachers give students to read?

Music that they can read.

How should players think about distances between notes?

Not as a set of distances but as a sense of scale.

What are resonators?

Amplifiers.

What are trills according to the notes?

False notes created by rotors when plugged in.

What is the written range of the marimba?

A2–C7; 4.3 octaves.

What is the written range of the xylophone?

F3–C7; sounds an octave higher.

What is the written range of orchestra bells?

G3–C5; sounds two octaves higher.

What is the written range of the vibraphone?

F3–F6.

What is the written range of chimes?

C4–F5.

How should timpani drums be positioned?

In an open semicircle.

What is the English-style timpani arrangement?

Left to right, low to high.

What is the German-style timpani arrangement?

Right to left, low to high.

How should the body move when playing timpani?

Do not move the body; move the trunk to hit the timpani.

Why lean on the timpani stool?

For immediate access to the pedal and to keep stick position parallel to the timpani.

How far from the rim is the timpani beating spot?

3–6 inches.

How should a player position the body to reach each timpani?

Be square to each drum and swivel the trunk to hit the timpani.

What grip should be used for timpani?

The same grip as mallets.

What grip transition is mentioned for advancing timpani players?

As they advance they should move to German grip; the notes also mention French stroke.

Where does natural rebound on timpani come from?

The style of the drum.

What is written about American grip?

Matched; the notes contrast it with French grip and indicate thumb up.

How should a timpani stroke feel?

Like an upstroke; think up.

What is a difficulty when playing successive timpani notes?

Playing successive notes evenly and articulately.

What can change timpani articulation?

The sticks used; how fast the player pulls away from the drum; pressure of the grip.

What is a timpani downstroke good for?

Heavy sound with resonant overtones.

What technique is associated with the timpani downstroke in the notes?

German technique.