Playing Timpani in “Glory” with John Legend & Common - in Selma, AL

How was your Martin Luther King Day? I was remembering about a performance I was a part of six years ago honoring his life in Selma Alabama. I really look up to how he dedicated his life to helping and inspiring others. It is my hope to do the same with the power of music and whatever abilities I can offer! We performed "Glory" with John Legend and Common, which was written for the movie “Selma”. Edmund Pettus Bridge is where 600 people marched demanding an end to discrimination in voter registration in 1965. If you would like to learn more about the history, "Selma" is a great movie about how the civil rights movement. 

I'm also on day 9 of the 30-Day 10min Practice Challenge. I'm feeling very good about myself for continuing this challenge (pressure is also on since I'm the one who started this challenge!🙄). You can follow my journey via the link on my Instagram (@chihiroplayspercussion)

Today, I'm sharing my "Polyrhythm Maker"!!🥳 (You can download the PDFs via the link)

Continuing the theme of last week’s Polyrhythm Challenge, I wanted to dive deep into the world of polyrhythm. 

Have you ever encountered a polyrhythm in a piece that you just wanted to fake because you felt like there is no way to play it accurately? I certainly have! 😖

That’s why I made this Polyrhythm Maker so that you can figure out EXACTLY how to play whatever polyrhythms come your way ⭐️💫 

The Polyrhythm Maker will:

💫 Teach you how to figure out any polyrhythms by making an easy-to-play grid of notes

💫 Give you a chance to practice difficult polyrhythms accurately

💫 Come with an instruction PDF, LCM calculator, and graph paper to do your own project

As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments, requests, or questions by replying to this email. It’s my goal to make this newsletter as helpful to you as possible. 

Here is a little inspiration from Dr. King ⭐️

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

Have a wonderful week & Happy Practicing!

I hope you are having a relaxing holiday season. I have been staying inside, cooking/ eating way too much sugar, and catching up on reading. 

Today, I'm sharing my "4 Mallet Twinkle - daily warm up" 🥳 (You can download the PDF via the link)

I realized that many 4 Mallet method books have basic exercises that are not so “musical”. While it is great for working on a specific technique, it’s not so great for developing a good sense of phrasing. I’m all about efficiency and killing two birds with one stone when it comes to practicing!

That’s why I wrote this warm up based on the “Twinkle Twinkle” tune that everyone knows. 

This resource can be used to:

• Warm up 4-mallet playing daily 

• Evaluate each hand’s technique carefully

• Work on controlling dynamics on each mallet by bring out the familiar melody 

• Develop a great sense of musicality while warming up

• Cover most of basic 4 mallet marimba techniques such as independence, double stops, and rolls all in this 2-page warm up

By the way, I use the traditional grip or cross grip for 4-mallet playing. I believe that no matter what grip you play, you can learn to be excellent, as long as you give enough time to work on it and the grip is physically fit for you. If any of you want to try learning or have questions about traditional grip, I’m happy to help. You can always reach me at “chihiro@chihiroshibayama.com”

Lastly, I'd like to share a dose of inspiration with you! ⭐️

“. .the most crucial ingredient by far for success in music is . . .what happens in the practice room.” - William Westney, American Pianist 

I hope you and your family have a safe and wonderful holiday season 🥳

Happy (holiday) Practicing!

Chihiro

Click on the image to receive a free guide!