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Just The 4 Of Us
16 Inspiring New Works for Solo Marimba
by Mark Goodenberger (Central Washington University)
edited by Arthur Lipner
physical & digital, 59 pgs, released Nov. '22
price $25
free USPS shipping!
“Delightful and satisfying to perform. I can’t wait to start teaching from it!” Dr. Andrew Spencer
“A stunning collection of fun and challenging solos for marimba. Provides students insight into the thought process professionals often experience when learning new music.” Naoko Takada
Mark Goodenberger's new collection is perfect for the advanced four-mallet beginner. After looking at music samples and listening to his virtuosic recordings (below), and checking out the peer reviews (WOW!) we believe you'll share in the excitement.
This book adds to the very limited amount of quality repertoire at this level. Students of all ages and levels - teachers too - will enjoy these fun pieces! General Notes and Exercises addressing specific techniques and passages bring forth solid pedagogy.
New Orleans Second Line, Latin Rock, Mambo & more. Plus nine insightful "Mark's Musings" sharing thoughts and stories.
There are many possibilities to add
Just The 4 Of Us to teaching methods, recitals, your practice & warmup material,
and any marimba library.
front cover
back cover - click to expand for further details
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Burning!
General Notes & Exercises
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Burning! performed by the composer
Just The 4 Of Us
General Notes & Exercises
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click to expand
Just The 4 Of Us performed by the composer
Below please enjoy videos of Mark Goodenberger playing the remaining 12 compositions in Just The 4 Of Us
REVIEWS
“This is my new go to book for beginning four mallets. I love the exercises at the beginning of all the etudes, teaching students to design exercises for hard passages. Most importantly, these etudes are musical. This enables me as a teacher to dive into musical concepts.” Dr. Joel Bluestone, Professor of Percussion, Portland State University
“Mark Goodenberger's collection of beginning to intermediate 4 mallet marimba solos fills a needed gap in the rep for younger players and offers great exercises for university students and young professionals...thoughtful technical explanations of increasingly more demanding techniques, he offers lots of variety, cool ideas, catchy melodies, engaging rhythms, and mostly, a lot of fun for the player! A helpful addition to any teacher's catalogue of good material to recommend, with different styles and challenges to help maintain a high level of self-motivation!” Julie Spencer, Marimbist, Composer with Norsk Musikforlag
“Innovative but well grounded; accessible but fresh; just the right length; multifaceted in style: comprehensive in its coverage of many current marimba techniques; personal and touching; fun to play.” All these phrases describe the joyful learning in his excellent four-mallet etude book for young marimbists," Dr. Douglas Walter, Professor Percussion and Jazz, University of Colorado
“A thoughtfully created collection of sixteen compositions progressing in difficulty. Ideally suited musically and technically for students who have moved beyond the fundamentals of four-mallet playing. Goodenberger presents various musical styles with influences from New Orleans Second Line, Latin Rock, Mambo grooves, and reflections from his sabbatical residencies in Paris and Budapest. These works with well-conceived page-turns were composed for his students who enjoyed playing them, and no doubt, your students will appreciate them as well.” Michael Udow, Univ. of Michigan Emeritus Professor (1982–2011)
Principal Percussionist, Santa Fe Opera (1968–2009)
“To be totally honest, after I sightread through these pieces in one sitting I felt like a better musician. I learned new things about playing marimba from Mark’s exercises and text. “Mark’s Musings” shared inspirational stories and insights. Bravo!”
Arthur Lipner, Vibes/Marimba recording artist, Conn-Selmer/Vic Firth clinician, Composer
"These concise pieces are little gems, reminding me that playing marimba should be and can be fun."
Luanne Warner Katz, freelance percussionist/soloist: Boston, San Francisco, Portland
"Mark Goodenberger has once again achieved through his compositions a brilliant combination of musical exploration and technical consciousness. This book beautifully demonstrates his insights as a lifelong learner through pieces that are challenging, interesting, and - most importantly - fun!" Josh Gianola, Principal Percussionist, Yakima Symphony
“Mark Goodenberger’s new book, “Just the 4 of Us” is a wonderful addition to the early/mid-level marimba repertoire. The compositions are delightful and satisfying to perform. And, more importantly, the technical exercises that accompany each piece are excellent for developing solid marimba technique. This volume is filled with insight, wit, and whimsy. I can’t wait to start teaching from it!” Dr. Andrew Spencer, Professor of Percussion, Central Michigan University
"Just the 4 of us is a stunning collection of fun and challenging solos for marimba. A series of exercises accompany each solo to help students focus on the technical and musical demands of the music. This book provides students insight into the thought process professionals often experience when learning new music.” Naoko Takada, Marimba Instructor at University of Southern California
Mark Goodenberger, percussionist and composer, is the Director of Percussion Studies at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. As a specialist in Symphonic and Chamber music, he has worked with composers including Steve Reich, Libby Larsen, Chen Yi, George Crumb, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Elliott Carter, Lou Harrison, Michael Udow, Chinary Ung, Zhou Long, Tomas Svoboda, Julie Spencer, Forrest Pierce, Mark Polishook, and John Luther Adams, premiering many new works. Mark is also active as a baroque specialist, performing the kettledrums with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Pacific Music Works, and Vancouver Early Music. He is a Yamaha performing artist, a member of the Vic Firth Education team, and is proud to endorse the Goodenberger G-Line Mix marimba mallets made by Amy Putnam Mallets. His music is published by MalletWorks Music, Marimba Productions Inc, HoneyRock Publishing, and Wild Cheetahs Productions. Mark holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Lewis & Clark College and a Master of Music in Performance degree from the University of Michigan. www.markgoodenberger.com