Objective Grading of Four-Mallet Marimba Literature The Performance Level SystemResearch Background Percussion PedagogyCurrent Research Project 3rd ProjectWhy? – Two Personal Observations1. Lack of Quality Pedagogical InformationFirst Example Yellow After The Rain by Mitchell PetersOnline Information Official Review PAS Review LibraryDistributor Steve Weiss MusicPersonal Online LibraryWikipedia2. Need for Intermediate LiteratureNeed for Intermediate LiteratureHypothesisNumbers Game Unhelpful Review of LiteratureProving Hypothesis Unsuccessful with simple stepsModel ResearchComplete Research StepsPilot Project StepsEvaluation CriteriaDefinitions of Certain CriteriaInitial Results and Problems2nd Try at Analysis2nd set of Results and Problems3rd Try = “the Charm”Level 1Level 2Level 3Slide 28Level 4Slide 30Level 5Slide 32Level 6Slide 34Level 7Slide 36Level 8Slide 38Level 9Slide 40Level 10Slide 42FINAL NUMBERS ANALYSISNew DescriptionFuture WorkMU Grants – Thank youPersonnel – Thank YouPAS/PASIC – Thank you+Objective Grading of Four-MalletMarimba LiteratureThe Performance Level SystemDr. Julia GainesAssistant Professor of PercussionSchool of MusicUniversity of Missouri+Research BackgroundPercussion PedagogyDMA Document - Percussion Techniques Class•Sent questionnaire to 2000 current band directors asking if the percussion techniques class they took in college was helpful for their teaching•Resulted in a 30-day lecture outline which included information suggested by on-the-job band directorsMSHSAA Prescribed Music List•President of MOPAS - charged chapter with compiling complete database of pieces on the PGML with recommendations for removal or retention on the list•Finally, in summer of 2008, recommendations for removal were made; suggestions for additions begin this next summer•complete database of information on every piece (approx. 500) is available on MOPAS chapter website+Current Research Project3rd ProjectExamine the four-mallet marimba repertoire and identify difficulty levels that expand the current grading system (beginning, intermediate, advanced) with the purpose of creating a pedagogically helpful listing of literature+Why? – Two Personal Observations1. Lack of Quality Pedagogical InformationToo often, beginning students (particularly at the high school level) do not follow an appropriate repertoire sequence to significantly advance the level of performance on the instrumentRepertoire is static - playing the same pieces2008 MSHSAA district/state appearances – 20/90(over 20% of marimba solos were the same piece)2. Not enough quality literature at the beginning and intermediate difficulty levels (quality often emerges from quantity)+1. Lack of Quality Pedagogical InformationPublisher/Distributor Online CatalogsProvide information appropriate to selling a piece of music - commercial bias skews informationReviews - official (PAS) and unofficial (personal websites)Provide personal opinion regarding any number of aspects in a piece of music - subjective and unreliable (some very good and some very bad)+First ExampleYellow After The Rain by Mitchell PetersOne of the most popular four-mallet marimba pieces of all timeYouTube videos - 37 performancesMexican Dances (38), Rosauro marimba concerto (51), and Rhythm Song (66)2008 MSHSAA district/state appearances – 20/90(over 20% of marimba solos were the same piece)+Online InformationOfficial ReviewPAS Review Library“This is an unaccompanied solo for marimba requiring four-mallet technique. Both chordal and “rocker” techniques are employed in the handling of the four mallets” (1972)From www.pas.org+DistributorSteve Weiss MusicProduct Rating: 5 starsDate Posted: 2006-06-23 10:15:31Posted By: Nathan PiazzaComments:Yellow After The Rain is basically THE Beginning Marimba Solo. A bit overplayed to the point of almost being cliche perhaps, but a good piece nonetheless. A great piece to start on for the beginner, or to study and use as practice for the more intermediate student, as it addresses a lot of technical issues.Product Rating: 5 stars - AwesomeDate Posted: 2006-12-16 00:52:42Posted By: Austin MeadeComments: This is an awesome solo for jr. high students (which i am). i will be playing this solo for our solo competition in february.+Personal Online LibraryBrief ReviewThis piece is clearly the standard four-mallet marimba rite of passage for all students in university percussion courses.Nearly every percussionist and their dog has studied this piece (or its close cousin, "Sea Refractions").One could write volumes about how Yellow After The Rain has been played, should be played, its history, its impact -- and indeed many percussionists have.+WikipediaYellow After the Rain is a composition for solo marimba, written by former LA Philharmonic principal percussionist Mitchell Peters. Peters reportedly wrote the work for his own private students, for whom he was unable to find musically interesting material that introduced four-mallet techniques. [citation needed] The work is modal and employs many basic skills, introduced in a sequential manner.After a metrically deceptive introduction, the main theme is stated in the right hand, with left hand accompaniment. This is immediately followed by a repeat of the melody with the left hand taking over the tune and the right hand assuming the accompanimental role. Throughout, the performer is able to maintain a consistent interval in the accompaniment (parallel P4). Chordal rolls form a transition to the work's exciting "B" section, which utilizes single independent strokes with each hand fixed in the interval of a perfect fifth. The consistency of these intervals allows the performer to concentrate on the wrist and hand motions involved in the strokes without worrying about changing the spatial relationship of the mallets. After a recap of the right hand melody, the theme is stated in four-voice homorhythmic style, again maintaining the perfect fourth relationship (spaced a major second apart). A brief coda ends the work.Virtually an entire generation of marimbists has been introduced to four-mallet techniques with this work, and it is likely that this legacy will continue, even as a wealth of excellent material joins it in the repertoire.+2. Need for Intermediate LiteratureNancy Zeltsman – ZMF New Musicwww.newmusic.zmf.us/commissioningproject.cfm“One of the biggest obstacles facing budding marimbists is the