Almost every school owns the equipment for a front ensemble: a number of marimbas, so many vibes, a microphone or two, maybe a xylophone. But the major issue around the nation is a lack of information about how to play these instruments or create a definite, defined quality of sound. With this article I will describe some basic fundamentals behind a full quality of sound from the keyboard percussion section of the front ensemble.

First on the list of fundamentals is velocity. Just as in marching percussion, velocity in keyboard percussion is key for a full, vibrant, outdoor sound quality. Consider for a second that in the world of physics and percussion, height does not equal sound, but rather velocity equals sound. So, by that conclusion, you can apply that knowledge to keyboard percussion.

A quick disclaimer though; velocity does not mean savagery. Don't beat the instruments, but with velocity behind a full stroke, the sound quality of the instrument will only be enhanced and amplified. Push too far though, and the quality will distort. The opposite is true as well, barely touching the keys with mallets will only make the instruments whisper.

Consider the human voice, when a person speaks normally, the voice has a certain quality to it. If that same person were to yell, his or her voice would distort, crack, or become hoarse. These same truths can be applied to instruments. A normal MF volume falls in the best range of many instruments. However, when pushed to a FF or FFF range, many instruments begin to falter, break, or lose quality of sound. To continue the analogy of the voice, when a person speaks quietly the voice still sounds like a voice, whereas if a person whispers all of the quality of sound of the voice is gone.

This prior analogy goes hand in hand with the idea of velocity-based strokes. A small stroke with no velocity can be likened to a whisper; it contains little quality of sound. Whereas a small stroke that still contains velocity equates to a person speaking quietly. Velocity will create a quality of sound that can then be defined with heights. A 12" stroke with no velocity is as useless as a 3" stroke with no velocity. When defining heights it is important to remember that all of the strokes will still contain the same amount of velocity. Each height may be different, but the ingredients will still be the same.

Think of a stereo.  When you alter the volume, the quality doesn't change (except for the very extremes); instead the quality remains the same.  You just receive less or more of whatever you may be playing. So... a 3" stroke should contain the same velocity as a 12" stroke, however it is expended over a smaller distance, thus creating a smaller sound-- but, hopefully, with great quality.

How much is too much? This question always comes up in regards to teaching velocity.  The answer comes in two parts. When your ear tells you it's correct, then you're getting close. If the sound coming from the section isn't right and you feel you've tried everything else, the answer could be more, or less velocity. The next tell-tale sign of too much velocity is distortion and breakdown. If perhaps you find your group constantly breaking equipment, too much velocity may be being employed. Also if you find the quality of sound coming from the keyboards to be very brash, you can assume that the amount of velocity is bringing the instrument to its point of distortion. And each set of equipment is a little different. One brand of instrument will have a different point of "maxing" out than another brand.  Play around until you find the ceiling!

In conclusion, keyboards should not be considered percussion instruments that "take no technique." True you can just "hit" a keyboard instrument, but to create quality, a system must be developed. The first step in the system is to realize that velocity is not just for drums, but for all percussion. Don't be afraid to teach velocity in outdoor keyboard percussion.  Once harnessed, velocity will create a sound quality that is unattainable via mallets, or amplification alone. Remember that an amplified whisper is still just that, a whisper.

Articles & Videos on this site are the property and copyright of Dynamic Marching, LLC.  No unauthorized dissemination of material is permissible.