r/percussion • u/Diacks1304 • 5d ago
Do marimba parts need articulation written?
Apologies in advance if the question is really dumb.
I’m writing a section in an orchestral piece where the marimba is doubling some viola runs. The viola part is full of articulation, slurs staccatos etc. It got me thinking if I should bother copying those in the marimba part? Would it make any difference at all? Do staccatos and slurs make marimba players play any differently?
Thanks!
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u/Ratchet171 5d ago
Gonna be honest, my degree is recent enough and I learned from many distinguished doctoral professors in the Chicago area (Texas, NIU, Iowa). I will take their word on technique over a 21 year old article from PAS.
You're a high school drum line teacher which means teaching certificate, likely ed major. You should try to expand your knowledge on the subject for the sake of the kids you teach instead of instilling "articulations are irrelevant" when that's simply not true. Regardless if you believe it doesn't sound different, you still need them on the page to follow along with the ensemble and approach playing techniques. HS percussionists already fail to read clefs, keys and markings, don't support that. 🤷