separation anxiety
I recently saw a marimba player perform a Bach fuge that I've been working on. This person is a really great percussionist and I was anxious to watch him play.
He really struggled through the piece and one thing caught my eye about his approach.
He really had mad a huge attempt to play lines with one mallet even when not necessary. I didn't really understand that at all and still don't.
It goes back to the pianistic thing I always hear about the instrument. I don't understand that either. It's not a piano, not even close and the approach shouldn't be pianistic. Sure we're trying to accomplish the same things, however a pianists hands and technique are designed to be separated. Ours are not. Our technique involves, borrowing, stealing but not total separation. Maybe someone will come along and prove me wrong, but our hands work together when we play.
So no matter what grip you use why would you play a single fast line with one mallet. I figure it like this. maybe 2 or 3 notes while you're getting something accomplished with the other hand but then it must come up and 'help' out.
I still say this instrument is more like a guitar than a piano. We do the same tricks to play chords and melodies and pull it all together.
What does anyone else think? I post this not to say I'm right, but to give my opinion and see if anyone else agrees or disagrees.
I think we can develop separation anxiety because we try so hard for 'independence' on the vibes, where the answer to our problems lie in co-dependency.
what do you think?
He really struggled through the piece and one thing caught my eye about his approach.
He really had mad a huge attempt to play lines with one mallet even when not necessary. I didn't really understand that at all and still don't.
It goes back to the pianistic thing I always hear about the instrument. I don't understand that either. It's not a piano, not even close and the approach shouldn't be pianistic. Sure we're trying to accomplish the same things, however a pianists hands and technique are designed to be separated. Ours are not. Our technique involves, borrowing, stealing but not total separation. Maybe someone will come along and prove me wrong, but our hands work together when we play.
So no matter what grip you use why would you play a single fast line with one mallet. I figure it like this. maybe 2 or 3 notes while you're getting something accomplished with the other hand but then it must come up and 'help' out.
I still say this instrument is more like a guitar than a piano. We do the same tricks to play chords and melodies and pull it all together.
What does anyone else think? I post this not to say I'm right, but to give my opinion and see if anyone else agrees or disagrees.
I think we can develop separation anxiety because we try so hard for 'independence' on the vibes, where the answer to our problems lie in co-dependency.
what do you think?
posted by Tony at
12:03 PM
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2 comments
