Great to get Neil's insights into music making. Neil is a good friend and we've collaborated in different situations - from vibe / marimba duets to an 11 piece classical / jazz crossover project w/ Tim Garland, Geoffrey Keezer and John Patitucci. I learn so much from him every time we get together. Here, in particular, it was good for me to hear him talk about practicing SLOWLY, and the importance of LISTENING! What some may not know about him is that he can also play a mean blues on the vibes!
I play the trombone and even I can say this is fantastic, very helpful to understand our percussion colleagues :) I'm impressed by his knowledge of what others are playing, that's how it's really done 'cause in an orchestra nobody is playing alone..
UA-cam made one big play in partnering with the LSO for this. These players are no joke. And what graciousness is on display with them sharing their knowledge and their talents. I don't want to nitpick, but for any percussionists, just for fun, perform a three second roll (or trill depending on what instrument you play) whenever he says "it's really, really important" and make sure to time each one. I think if you did it straight through after you added it all up, you'd have a growing pair of biceps. A slight bit annoying, but superbly explained all in all. And I'm no musician!
I'm here because of the Skyrim concert. Great performance. I asked to me who was this percusion man. You were younger here, but well...we all were. Skyrim was almost announced when you uploaded this video.
As an American orchestral percussionist, it is very interesting for me to see the difference in the perception of percussion playing between the US and the UK. While all American players strive to be as technically and tonally accurate as possible, this guy seems to be addressing every passage from the ensemble point of view, and almost no technical aspects.
This guy's technique makes me think i've been playing wrong all my life. I only play thumbs up on xylo and vibes. Never on marimba or drums. Whenever I play thumbs up drums the sticks fly out of my hand since i'm not use to holding them like that. If it helps to play as fast as he did near 4:25 then I might start playing like that haha. God that was quick
Personally, I don't necessarily like his style of playing from an aesthetic stand point... But he plays extremely well! and I really like some of the methods that he brings to the table when preparing an excerpt
@@mlefeb Lmao this is a pre-recorded video he could have recorded it again.. but he didn't. and it wasn't like all the playing in the video is played in one take.
@TheAdachir87 Well, i think maybe he doesn't discuss technical aspects as for an LSO standard position (which was the benchmark for the YT orchestra) one's technique must be top notch? Or maybe he just forgot to mention it! But i too find it (as a brass player) very interesting looking at the different views, sounds, and attitudes between our countries to certain aspects of orchestra music! :)
@SUNSNARE06 I agree with you in the sense that the attitude of cudarzu is way out of line, if you have played on a drumline then you have the right to rip on it but in the case that you havent: there is only one section in our show this year that is playing as loud as we can, the rest of it is essentially concert snare music being played on a marching drum. But again the way cudarzu is expressing himself is very dickheaded. Have a nice day.
@giovanniSapporo Are you prinicple percussion for a world famous orchestra? If not then you are in no place to judge, unless you post your own masterclass of your version
Would it be ok if I upload maybe another excerpt apart from the three required?, and! the firebird excerpt for xylophone is out of the list?? or can we upload it too?
Great to get Neil's insights into music making. Neil is a good friend and we've collaborated in different situations - from vibe / marimba duets to an 11 piece classical / jazz crossover project w/ Tim Garland, Geoffrey Keezer and John Patitucci. I learn so much from him every time we get together. Here, in particular, it was good for me to hear him talk about practicing SLOWLY, and the importance of LISTENING! What some may not know about him is that he can also play a mean blues on the vibes!
This man is such a highly skilled percussionist.He must also be a wonderful teacher,explains things so well.
I play the trombone and even I can say this is fantastic, very helpful to understand our percussion colleagues :) I'm impressed by his knowledge of what others are playing, that's how it's really done 'cause in an orchestra nobody is playing alone..
I feel very very sorry for the trumpets and horns who have to play Scheherazade with him. I bet they'll be scared to death
Now this guy really knows his stuff & more importantly knows how to communicate it.
probably the best out of all the masterclasses
I have NEVER heard Scheherazade taken that fast.
This is one of the best instructional videos I have ever seen on UA-cam.
Superb musical approach to the literature and instruments.
You are a fantastic teacher thank you sir.
Can I just say that this video is so helpful for auditioning to uni !
A fantastic Masterclass!
UA-cam made one big play in partnering with the LSO for this. These players are no joke. And what graciousness is on display with them sharing their knowledge and their talents.
I don't want to nitpick, but for any percussionists, just for fun, perform a three second roll (or trill depending on what instrument you play) whenever he says "it's really, really important" and make sure to time each one.
I think if you did it straight through after you added it all up, you'd have a growing pair of biceps.
A slight bit annoying, but superbly explained all in all. And I'm no musician!
such a different school of thought on how to approach the instruments, I love it
I'm here because of the Skyrim concert. Great performance. I asked to me who was this percusion man. You were younger here, but well...we all were. Skyrim was almost announced when you uploaded this video.
1:15 - It sounds like he can double tongue? O_o
Excuse the Expression but' wow' you got me, Neil Great Stuff. I enjoyed this informative MasterClass Lesson that's why your Principal Percussionist.
Did anybody else feel like he rushed the 32nds at the start?
As an American orchestral percussionist, it is very interesting for me to see the difference in the perception of percussion playing between the US and the UK. While all American players strive to be as technically and tonally accurate as possible, this guy seems to be addressing every passage from the ensemble point of view, and almost no technical aspects.
4:26 horn and trumpet can just buzz roll at that point! haha
Thank you very much for the teaching! That exactly what I need.
I'm a cellist but i like so much percussion instrument 🥁
great stuff,amazing insight into the work of a percussion master
I thought that as well, but it works really well for the passage especially. At any rate he makes it look easy and fluid which it certainly is not.
This guy's technique makes me think i've been playing wrong all my life. I only play thumbs up on xylo and vibes. Never on marimba or drums. Whenever I play thumbs up drums the sticks fly out of my hand since i'm not use to holding them like that. If it helps to play as fast as he did near 4:25 then I might start playing like that haha. God that was quick
Awesome technique!!
yes... Im having a hard time with those three parts.. but I still dont know what I will upload.. good luck!! Hope to see your video soon!
5:10 shit is that a tank coming my way.... oh no, it's just the best drum roll i ever heard in my life
All is "Very very important"... i agree with that
Personally, I don't necessarily like his style of playing from an aesthetic stand point... But he plays extremely well! and I really like some of the methods that he brings to the table when preparing an excerpt
It would be nice to see a little class about the cymbals, tambourine and triangle excerpts!! =)
The point was that he wasn't calling out he who was clearly better
He was acknowledging that he isn't that by a good amount.
He played a G# instead of a F# at 12:01 during the Firebird Xylophone Excerpt.
He missed a note, does that make him a bad percussionist?
@@mlefeb Lmao this is a pre-recorded video he could have recorded it again.. but he didn't. and it wasn't like all the playing in the video is played in one take.
Calvin Chiu Yeah true. It could’ve been an amazing take of everything else though you never know
@TheAdachir87 Well, i think maybe he doesn't discuss technical aspects as for an LSO standard position (which was the benchmark for the YT orchestra) one's technique must be top notch? Or maybe he just forgot to mention it! But i too find it (as a brass player) very interesting looking at the different views, sounds, and attitudes between our countries to certain aspects of orchestra music! :)
@SUNSNARE06 I agree with you in the sense that the attitude of cudarzu is way out of line, if you have played on a drumline then you have the right to rip on it but in the case that you havent: there is only one section in our show this year that is playing as loud as we can, the rest of it is essentially concert snare music being played on a marching drum. But again the way cudarzu is expressing himself is very dickheaded. Have a nice day.
@duhjimbay That's weird, I see what you mean. They must have taken it off the repertoire list then.
Will one of the Berlin Phil percussionists cover the other excerpts in a future video?
@giovanniSapporo Are you prinicple percussion for a world famous orchestra? If not then you are in no place to judge, unless you post your own masterclass of your version
@cudarzu Then why didn't the London Symphony Orchestra hire you?
Would it be ok if I upload maybe another excerpt apart from the three required?, and! the firebird excerpt for xylophone is out of the list?? or can we upload it too?
1:10
What is the brand of that glockenspiel
Will there be a video for the marimba piece?
anyone know where to find the xylophone excerpt? it doesn't seem to be on the site anymore.
single stokes? hum... in my opinion in this passage of scheherazade, double strokes are more idiomatic and fluid
"Conductors are human too,"... XD
I do not like the French ethyl xylophone but this very well master
class
Wow, he has 2 big eyes
das ist nicht ernst gemeint, oder?
Well, don't you give bad name to percussionist everywhere.
You aren't too good, either, my friend. A quick look at your videos show that you appear to be the exact thing you're describing...
1:10