#263. But Why Are We Too Loud?

If I had a dollar for every time I have told my percussion section that they were playing too loudly in a band rehearsal, I’d have enough money to be writing this blog from my private island in the Caribbean! It might have been as subtle as, “Percussion could we try that a bit softer?” or as firm as “Percussion, please play that softer.” But sadly, it was probably more often said in a frustrated lament of “Percussion, you’re just too loud!” Boy, would those dollars have added up. Then, after way too many years, I realized the problem: I always told them when they needed to play softer, but I never explained to them why they needed to play softer. I never empowered them with the artistic reasoning. Taking the time to help them understand that acoustically, with them typically in the back of the ensemble with the winds in front of them pointing forward and all of those bodies blocking the sound, the percussionists can’t hear much of what’s sounding in front of them. How often do our percussionists actually hear the front row of flutes when the whole band is playing? But if the percussion section plays softer, they can hear the other players and come to understand what other part or parts they may be doubling. They can hear accents or stresses in the wind parts that match those that are in their parts, so they can help accentuate them. They can hear places where their crisp release is needed to match the approach of the winds. And a myriad of other artistic nuances they can now understand and take part in. So the next time you’re tempted to tell the percussion to play softer, think about the virtues of sharing the reason why.

Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America