Mallet Percussion Ensemble

Course Description

Summary

Mallet Percussion Ensemble offers an environment for students to explore several mallet keyboard instruments, including the marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone, and African balafon. MPE's coursework is designed to link music theory, improvisation, and composition through the bi-weekly practice of playing scales, arpeggios, modes, and chord progressions while adapting and arranging various repertoire of our choosing. Students will perform composed works, create individual pieces, and collaborate as an ensemble to create a collective composition. Possible genres that MPE will explore range from folkloric, classical, contemporary, popular, and global genres. Students are encouraged to practice regularly outside of class. A private lesson(s) will be offered as needed. Presenting solo and ensemble works-in-progress for music workshop and campus events is encouraged. No prior experience playing a mallet keyboard is required. Playing an instrument and/or having basic knowledge of music notation along with pattern recognition is preferred, but not mandatory.