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Berklee Visits Grover Pro
Berklee College Of Music Professor, Dean Anderson, and a few of his students took time out from the end of the school semester to visit the Grover Pro factory. The group was given a personalized tour of our facility and joined the Grover Pro staff for a quick lunch.
Dean Anderson, who has been a Grover Pro endorser for over 30 years, is one of Boston’s premier percussionists. In fact, Dean was the second person in the world to own a Grover Pro Super-Overtone triangle. The year was 1980!
(l to r) Dean Anderson, Deepak Gopinath, Ben Pitt, Neil Grover & Jordan Brooks
New Haven Percussionists Play Grover
Our percussion products are used in hundreds of top orchestras, ensembles, Broadway shows, and in many of today’s Hollywood’s blockbuster film scores. It’s always nice to hear from percussionists who use our gear in the field! Recently, we heard from the New Haven Symphony percussion section, who told us that they perform on an extensive array of Grover Pro Percussion mallets, tambourines, triangles, woodblocks, log drums, snare drums, etc.
Dave Edricks (front) , Jon Churchill (l) & Lee Caron (r)
We received this from Dave Edricks, “I have been using Grover products for over 25 years. Hands down, the best quality instruments made in the industry. I will be a fan forever.”
Thanks Dave!
NEW 5″ “SUPER-OVERTONE” TRIANGLE
Introduced in 1980, our Super-Overtone™ triangles were the first pro quality triangles specifically manufactured to emit a large array of overtones. Available in two sizes (6″ & 9″) the TR-6 & TR-9 models have been some of the most sought after symphonic triangles.
Model TR-5 "Super-Overtone" triangle
Our NEW 5″ model Super-Overtone triangle produces the same wide- harmonic spectrum as the two larger models, but, the frequency band of this model is significantly higher than the 6″ model. In fact, this special triangle bridges the gap between a standard model and a high pitched piccolo triangle.
Orchestral percussionists will find this triangle to be very versatile and suitable for all professional situations, regardless of ensemble size.
CELEBRATING FENWAY’S 100th!
I was thrilled to be invited to take part in Fenway Park’s 100th Anniversary celebration last Friday. It was a beautiful day to hold what is sure to be viewed as a historic event.
Members of the Boston Pops were on hand to perform 3 John Williams compositions. Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart kicked the festivities off with John Williams’ arrangement of the National Anthem. It was immediately followed by the playing of Maestro Williams’ “Hymn For New England.
As a special treat Maestro Williams conducted the world premier his new composition written for the occasion. Titled “Fanfare For Fenway”, the crowd reaction was closer to that of fans at a rock concert!
Neil Grover with Maestro John Williams
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WORLD PREMIER OF JOHN WILLIAMS’ “FANFARE FOR FENWAY”
Grover Endorsers Featured In Texas
Be sure to catch Grover Pro artists and top percussionists Rich Redmond & Mark Shelton on April 14th at the Percussive Arts Society – West Texas Day Of Percussion.
Rich Redmond
Rich Redmond is a top call recording drummer/percussionist based in Nashville. His versatile, dynamic, musical and rock solid drumming is the sound behind many of today’s top talents. He has worked country music’s top stars including: Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Jewel, Trace Adkins, plus many others.
Mark Shelton is a versatile, multi-percussionist, whose style blends influences from classical, jazz, folk, and pop. Mark is an avid “hand-percussionist” and has directed the Percussive Arts Society’s hand drumming jam sessions at PASIC.
Mark Shelton
Both Rich & Mark are prolific clinicians whose presentations motivate and inspire hundreds of young percussionists around the world. These are two clinicians that you won’t want to miss!
5 Things To Remember When Playing Tambourine
Playing a concert tambourine at a high level of proficiency takes patience, practice and good technique. Like any percussion instrument, it is an accessory that serious percussionists make the time to practice and master!
Will Hudgins - Boston Symphony
THE FIVE TIPS TO REMEMBER
- For general playing hold the tambourine at a 45° angle to the floor
- Always use a headed tambourine for concert work (not a headless model)
- Don’t hold the tambourine shell too tightly (it deadens the sound)
- When playing with finger tips make sure they are bunched together
- Don’t press too hard when playing finger rolls (now made easier with our NEW ROLL-RING!)
Follow these basic rules and you should be off to a good start!
CLICK HERE for more great tambourine information & instruction!
Las Vegas Philharmonic Has A New Home
This past week I had the pleasure of joining the percussion section of the Las Vegas Philharmonic for a performance of the Mahler Symphony #2. What made this experience extra special was that the Philhamonic was opening up it’s new home at The Smith Center For The Performing Arts.
Las Vegas Philharmonic
I’ve played a in number of new concert halls over the years, but this is one of the best! It is both aesthetically and acoustically beautiful. The performance was to a sold out audience. I got to play the mysterious “Mahler” bells at the end of the piece (in addition to glock, triangle and gong). Needless to say, there was an abundance of Grover products including triangles, mallets,beaters, and a rare Grover Pro Concert Bass Drum used.
I took the opportunity to present two percussion masterclasses on triangle & tambourine. Presentations were hosted at the Las Vegas Academy of Music (Pat Bowen – Director) and the University of Nevada -Las Vegas (Tim Jones & Dean Gronemeir, Esq.).
Thanks to all who made this great trip possible!
5 Things To Remember When Playing Triangle
As George Plimpton once discovered, playing triangle in a symphony orchestra is not as easy as it appears. Producing a musical sonority, striking in the right place – at the right time, stricking at just the right velocity and pressure and enduring the ridicule of jealous musicians around you, are all part of a day’s work!
Stan Head - Memphis Symphony
THE FIVE TIPS TO REMEMBER
- Triangle must vibrate freely
- To produce maximum overtones, avoid striking at a 45 degree angle
- Use a good quality beater with sufficient weight to excite metallic structure
- Never play mounted to a music stand
- Identify the trangle’s “sweet spot” before you play
Follow these basic rules and you should be off to a good start!
CLICK HERE for more triangle concepts and techniques.
Grover Pro Artists On Tour !
Percussionist John Wooton, Director Of Percussion at the University Of Southern Mississippi, will be embarking on a southeastern U.S. clinic tour next week.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities during the school year, John runs four percussion camps at the University of S. Mississippi over the summer.
John recently wrote us, “I use your tambourines and triangles, thanks for the amazing instruments!”
Here are the stops on John’s upcoming percussion clinic tour:
On April 14th Grover Endorser and Nashville Studio Percussionist Rich Redmond will be appearing as a clinician and guest artist at Frenship High School, Lubbock, TX. The clinic is sponsored by the Texas Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.
Rich is not only one of the busiest percussionists in Nashville, but he’s a highly sought after clinician as well! He regularly performas with country artist Jason Aldean.
David Collier, Director of Percussion at Illinois State University, will be the Percussion Coordinator for the Music for All “Honor Band of America” on March 14-17, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN. This ensemble is composed of the finest HS wind and percussion students auditioned from throughout the country and is a component of the National Music Festival.
How to Purchase Concert Percussion Accessories
Here’s some general percussive advice geared towards my music educator colleagues. This piece, original written for SB&O magazine, serves to provide insight into the task of acquiring proper basic percussion accessory instruments. The percussion instruments covered include: concert tambourine, piatti or hand cymbals, woodblock, temple blocks and more.
Feel free to download and share!
Click the image to download: “How to Purchase Concert Percussion Accessories”
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