I decided to learn four mallets for my Genius Hour project because it is something that has interested me for a long time. By learning this technique, I will enhance my skills on mallet instruments and expand my knowledge on music theory, sight reading, and overall musicality. In order to learn this, I have composed my own warm ups that will train my hands to get used to the grip and to function effortlessly while playing. Here are the steps to my warm up: 1. First, I warm up my hands on two mallets and practice scales. 2. Then I place two mallets into my right hand and play separate notes, stretching from a half step to an octave and back down. I will do the same with the opposite hand. 3. After that, I will play notes together with one hand, and then the other. Once my hands are warmed up I practice chord progressions and small bits of songs that I learned from ear (the first few seconds of Wait For It, various songs from the radio, more show tunes things, etc.) Unfortunately, the mallet instruments were unavailable when I planned on recording (I will generally be recording my warm ups/solo on Fridays after school to give myself time to practice each week) since we have our MPA Preview performance this Tuesday and the mallets were moved to the auditorium in advance. I have, however, selected my first solo, which will be the Opening Theme from Concerto in B Minor by P. I. Tschaikowsky. In the next few weeks, I will post small videos of my warm ups and What I have learned of the piece so far. There is music for a piano accompaniment as well so I may play that with the entirety of the piece one I perfect the marimba solo. Until then, here is a YouTube link for one of my favorite marimba pieces titled Impressions. This is a solo I have always liked but could not find the sheet music for it at a reasonable price. https://youtu.be/HjjhR2B_zTI
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AuthorMadelyn Kenney is a 10th grade student at Davie High School and is in Mr. Barker's Honors English II (STEM) class. ArchivesCategories |
Photo used under Creative Commons from CulturayDeportesGT