x

OK I'm back!

tonymiceli 21 August 2014

I had an amazing and busy summer.

I can inform all of you including Gary Burton and Dave Friedman who talked about the demise of the vibraphone that it is still out there and strong. Sure not like a guitar, but it's there and WE are all having an effect on that.

You guys along with me are playing and talking about the instrument and we're making a difference. I think the instrument has grown a lot in the last 7 years. I am so psyched by what I've seen this summer.

I did an amazing workshop in Australia with 7 really good players. Did an inspiring workshop in Korea, another in Delaware and Ireland.

I feel like all of our work is not in vain! We are making a difference. So it was a proud summer for me to see all this. I was in several Continents and inspired every step of the way. I'm telling we are doing a lot of good in the percussion world!

Anyway, I'm back and ready to post lots of lessons and for myself to practice a LOT.

Let's work hard!

Comments

David Friedman Fri, 08/22/2014 - 11:08

When did I ever suggest the demise of the vibraphone?????

tonymiceli Sun, 08/24/2014 - 00:39

in an article in 1974. I have it here somewhere. It's a Percussion Magazine, I forget which one it is.

The interviewer said to you something like:

'So Gary Burton says the vibraphone will be dead in 50 years'.

You replied 'In 50 years? it's dead right now'.

John Keene Sun, 08/24/2014 - 15:06

I'm looking at the article right now (December 1985 and I had sent a copy to Tony along with a few others), and you were the cover story. The context was that the interviewer asked about the future of the vibraphone and concern over it dying out. Your reply (and I would agree) was that "I don't think it was ever as much in the forefront as saxophone, guitar, or drums. To say that it's dying is really presupposing that, at one point, it was in the vanguard" (page 10).

We've talked about the problems with respect to initial investment being rather steep compared to a student model clarinet, plus limited opportunities (how many vibes players can you really have in a school orchestra), and volume in pop music bands was an issue. I think it was also true at the time that the primary purchasers of new vibraphones was schools rather than musicians, since the latter will often try to buy a used one instead.

Gary's interview was one year before in the December 1984 issue, and the reply he offered (on page 39) was along the lines of "the major new generation has yet to appear" and the point was just that its emergence was overdue more than certain instruments dying off. As memory serves, it was also a time of transition in music, music education, and new music styles such as hip hop were crossing over to the mainstream.

tonymiceli Sun, 08/24/2014 - 16:54

you are our librarian john!

you should blog and talk about these articles and whatever else you can think of.

btw i know you teach or taught a beatles course. have you TUNE IN yet? what a fascinating, interesting and exciting book about the beatles.

i could not be Pete Best.

David Friedman Mon, 08/25/2014 - 13:50

Not mad. I just felt mis-quoted. I couldn't imagine evert saying the "vibraphone is dead right now". So, I was greatful to John for setting the record straight. That's all.

David Friedman Tue, 08/26/2014 - 14:22

Saying something is not in the forefront is different than saying something is "dead", no?

Examples: !), what I said, 2) what you siad I said. :-)

1) "Sam is still playing 3rd trumpet in Murray's band and after 3 years hasn't made it to 1st chair."

2) "Hey, did you hear about Sam?"
"No, what do you mean?"
"He's dead!"

tonymiceli Tue, 08/26/2014 - 17:11

wow. ok, I'm so sorry about sam and about misquoting you! both of those. you are the best and a real inspiration to me! so my apologies.

do you accept them? or are you going to call a duel? (i hope not)

Access

What instruments does this pertain to?

x
⇡