Midi and The Percussion Teacher
By Mike Myers
MODERN DRUMMER, JULY 1988
In 1983, a musical innovation was born, which might be the most important advancement not only in percussion but in all of music, for this whole century. Musical Instruments Digital Interface (MIDI) was quietly adopted in 1983 as a standard way for computer communication between electronic musical instruments, and music and the world of percussion haven't quite the same since.
In it's early days, MIDI applied mainly to keyboard instruments, but in only a few short years it has increased dramatically in popularity and widespread usage to include most types of electronic gear that are even remotely associated with musical applications.
Today, MIDI is all around us, on records, radio, TV, live concerts, and in the recording studio. MIDI is used, in one form or another, on almost every style of music that is currently heard. But what does the MIDI revolution mean to the education of percussion students? MIDI has several far reaching applications in the teaching of percussion on a private as well as classroom basis. This article will help explain and examine some of these applications.
First of all, a good basic MIDI set up for percussion applications should be assembled. The set up should include: a drum machine or sampling keyboard, a sequencer or personal computer with sequencing software, compatible MIDI interfaces, MIDI cables, an amplifier or sound source, and some type of tape recorder.
Everyone seems to have an opinion as to which type of MIDI equipment is best, and the instrument manufacturers don't make it any easier on us by coming out with a new and better product almost monthly. Be sure to read all the product reviews, talk to friends who presently own MIDI equipment, hang out at music stores, and try to learn as much as possible about the specifications of electronic equipment before plunking down your hard earned cash. Also, try to determine in advance what you are going to use your MIDI system for, and then assemble it according to those needs. You don't need to purchase a $100,000 state-of-the-art digital wonderland if all you want to do is run a drum machine as a fancy metronome with your private students. On the other hand, if you plan to use your set up with many students, all of varying age and ability, as well as personal endeavors and live performance, you may need more than the small electronic keyboard
From the basic equipment set up mentioned above, you can expand as much as desired (or financially permissible) to an unlimited number of accessories including: a mixer, other MIDI keyboards, effects, multi track tape decks, electronic drum pads, etc.
Upon first introduction to the fast and exciting world of MIDI, the young percussionist (and perhaps the not so young) is many times bewildered and perhaps a little intimidated. Percussion teachers should emphasize from the beginning that electronic percussion and MIDI will never replace the need for human players. A teacher's goal in using MIDI percussion should first be to educate, and second to encourage and motivate percussionists. Students will soon realize that the electronic aspect is much more of a friend than an enemy.
One MIDI application I have had much enjoyment and success with is the use of MIDI as a compositional tool with percussion students. Percussion students are encouraged to compose and arrange music for percussion and/or other instruments. It doesn't matter what style of music they compose, or for what instrumentation. I get pieces varying in length (sometimes only four to eight bars long) for diverse types of instrumentation such as four marching bass drums, to full blown percussion ensembles that are college level in difficulty. Many compositions call for the standard percussion instruments they are accustomed to playing at school. Most of these instruments are available on a drum machine or can be sampled fairly easily with a sampling keyboard.
After the specified instruments are assembled on the drum machine and/or sampler, the piece can be put together by MIDI sequencing. It usually only takes an hour or so to sequence a short piece a student has written, using the drum machine/sampler MIDI-ied to a sequencer or personal computer running sequencing software. If the student is knowledgeable in MIDI programming he/she can assist in the input process. The finished composition can be recorded on a tape for the student to keep. One of the most satisfying aspects of using MIDI, from an educational perspective, is watching a student hearing his/her first original piece being played perfectly, on the specified instruments, and at the correct tempo. Before MIDI, the only way a student would have been able to hear an original composition was to try to have the piece played at school, or hire professional musicians to record it. Either of these ways usually met with very limited success.
MIDI also makes it very easy to show the budding composer how his/her piece might be improved by making a few changes. Sections of the piece can easily be repeated, eliminated, or played in a different order. Tempi can also be changed subtly or drastically at any place in the composition. Instruments can be added (if the desired instruments reside in the memory of the drum machine or sampling keyboard) or subtracted. Also, MIDI makes it easy to have a part which has been recorded for one instrument to be played back on a completely different instrument. Changes such as these are extremely easy to make by way of MIDI and often involve only a keystroke or two on the computer or sequencer. Changes can be made without disturbing the student's original version when it is saved in computer memory first. Your students may be surprised at how a few suggestions or changes on your part can make a drastic difference in the way a composition is perceived or performed. After both of you are happy with the MIDI version of the composition, save it and make a tape for all of your students to hear. After your students hear the new composition they will have a good idea of how it should sound and will probably want to perform it themselves. Try performing some original student pieces on an upcoming band or percussion concert if possible. You will find that student pieces are big crowd pleasers at your local concerts and really help to promote percussion in your city.
Another teaching application which works well on MIDI is contest etudes and solos. Etudes and solos can be entered fairly easily by MIDI and then played back to demonstrate how a perfect performance would sound on the specified instrument. A good teacher should (himself) play for the student how a piece sounds first, and then use the MIDI version as a teaching tool. Be sure to stress that although the MIDI version is accurate, it may sound a bit stiff and mechanical. The student will benefit from hearing the perfect version as well as the human version.
Many percussion solos contain piano and keyboard accompaniments. MIDI can be used as a great accompaniment for percussion solos. Have an experienced accompanist play the piano part for a percussion solo into the sequencer from a MIDI keyboard. Once the keyboard part has been entered, it can be kept and used again and again for years to come. Also, MIDI is a blessing for all the "frustrated" keyboard players of the world (myself included) who cannot play two-handed keyboard parts at the specified tempo. MIDI makes it possible for keyboard parts to be sequenced very slowly, one hand at a time, and at any tempo. Many sequencers also have editing which will correct wrong notes and bad timing if desired. The MIDI accompaniments can be played back for the student at any tempo without loss of pitch or dynamic clarity. Most students will need to practice their solo slowly at first before working it up to correct speed. The MIDI accompaniment won't change keys the way a tape would if sped up or slowed down.
MIDI also gives the percussion teacher an opportunity to use the drum machine as a specific part in a duet, trio, etc. Program the machine to make up for the absence of a needed player or players and use it to perform live with your percussion section. Parts can be programmed by MIDI to really enhance and liven up what your percussion ensemble or marching percussion unit does. Make sure, however, not to leave capable players sitting on the sideline while a computer plays their part. Instead, use MIDI programming to compliment your performance.
MIDI also can open doors for your percussion ensemble that were never before possible. For example, how about using a violin background with a ballad style marching percussion ensemble? Have you ever wanted a guitar or harp player when no one was available? Or how about using a keyboard or brass part to strengthen the mallet percussion lines? Wouldn't it be nice to have accessory percussion instruments to accompany the group when no one is available to play these instruments? Would your weak players perform with more confidence if some of their parts were doubled on similar type instruments by MIDI?. All of these effects and many more, never before possible, can be used effectively with MIDI and a little creativity.
Most teachers will agree that MIDI makes possible many things which before 1983 were unheard of or impossible, on a private lesson or classroom basis, such as: the young Beethovens of tomorrow hearing their first compositions performed exactly as written; small percussion sections playing literature which calls for many players; demonstration of a perfect performance of technical etudes and solo pieces; MIDI rhythm sections performing with a percussion section; and many more possibilities that the creative teacher will discover. Make sure that in using MIDI, your students are encouraged and motivated to become better players. Don't let the machines make up for lack of musicianship, but instead, make the machines promote better musicianship.
MIDI and the electronic percussion technology is still so new that we are just starting to realize it's educational potential. The development and future implication of MIDI percussion will depend on how we, as effective teachers, find creative uses for it to build a world of better performing and better educated percussionists for the future.
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