Hi - I'm just about getting started playing marimba (been a percussionist for 30 years, tho', so minor head start...) and I'm in Cambridge, England, and interested to contact/meet other players in England - any out there reading this?
I'm hoping to have my hands on an Adams 4.3 soon... my main reason for wanting to play a melody instrument after 30 years of various kinds of percussion is to play Bach, so it seems that a marimba is ideal for me - there's already so much Bach transcribed, and I can probably do that myself once I get going.
Can anyone advise me on good books on technique, esp. 4 stick? I gather there are different schools of thought on /everything/!
- Padmavyuha
I would recommend you look at the Steven's Method of Movement for marimba. Although I recommend this method of holding the mallets, you can apply all the physical principals to any of the grips. If you have not done any four mallet playing before you should certainly seek advice from an accomplished player. I'm a professional marimba player, and I've seen many people who have tried to "work it out on their own" and believe me very few suceed with out some guidence.
Leigh Stevens is teaching at the Royal Academy in London, so there will be plenty of his students in the London area who would be happy to help out for a bit of extra cash. Students will do anything for money (I was one I should know)! 🙂
Best,
Thomas Alexander