Marimba: Technique Through Music by Mark Ford

marimba etude book
Composer: Mark Ford
Publisher: Innovative Percussion, Inc.
Instrumentation: Marimba (low A). 1 etude requires 5 octave
Program Notes:
Marimba: Technique Through Music now comes with a supplemental DVD! AuthorMark Ford discusses specific marimba stroke techniques, practice tips andperforms each of the book's 16 etudes on the DVD. Designed to help theintermediate four-mallet marimbist, this video is a unique educationalresource that delivers more than just exercises and etudes. Students canwatch detailed explanations of marimba technique to develop their ownperforming skills. Students have the best chance for building techniqueand musicality by working on short selections in a variety of differentmusical styles. This text guides the student through several etudes thatfocus on different musical applications of one specific technique. Eachsection of the book begins with a brief introduction to a specific strokefollowed by graduated etudes that utilize that stroke. In this manner, thestudent will become confident with these basic strokes and their applicationto musical expression on the marimba.
Review:
"Each of the 16 etudes in this superb collection is composed to assist the intermediate four-mallet marimbist in learning a specific pedagogical technique. The 16 marimba solos are varied in their musical style, and each focuses on a specific technique. After an introduction to this 64-page loose-bound collection, general comments by Mark Ford regarding stroke concepts, getting started, and chordal applications precede six sections that are named â??Single Independent Strokes,â?? â??Single Alternating Strokes,â?? Double Lateral Strokes,â?? â??Double Vertical Strokes,â?? â??Choralesâ?? and â??Combined Strokes.â?? The first two sections each have two etudes, while the remaining four sections have three etudes each. Of particular interest is Fordâ??s concluding sections on â??Choralesâ?? and â??Combined Strokes.â?? Both contain more difficult etudesâ??any one or a combination of which might be appropriate for the younger college-age recital (e.g. junior recital) or as potential contest/festival selections for intermediate to advanced high school marimbists. The titles of the tonal chorales are â??Wellington,â?? â??Azaleaâ?? and â??Coventry,â?? and their tonalities are D-major, F-major and B-major, respectively. In the introductory remarks to â??Chorales,â?? Ford suggests several outside listening examples or the student to reference regarding appropriate chorale style considerations. The concluding sectionâ??s titles are â??Birchbrook,â?? â??West Oakâ?? and â??Stoneman.â?? These solos present multi-metered, contemporary-style compositional techniques. The final composition in this collection, â??Stoneman,â?? is dedicated to Fordâ??s uncle, Bill McClintock, who lived next door to Ford when he was growing up. The sensitive â??dolceâ?? marking for this 3/4, B-flat major etude provides a gentle musical tribute to an individual who obviously impacted Fordâ??s life significantly. â??Stonemanâ?? would be appropriate for an undergraduate college percussion recital. Although this composition requires a fiveoctave marimba, the remaining solos in this collection can be performed on a low-A marimba. Congratulations to Mark Ford for providing 16 etudes that will permeate the teaching and performance pedagogy of marimba students for years to come." - Jim Lambert Percussive Notes, April 2006