TSB III - Oral Presentations
Adam Patrick Bell - Disability in the Life of J Dilla and Its Influence on his Rhythmic Invention
This talk reexamines J Dilla’s influential sound—particularly his “limping” rhythms—through the lens of disability studies. While Dan Charnas’s Dilla Time highlights rhythmic innovation, this presentation explores how Dilla’s chronic illness shaped his music, arguing that his disabled embodiment was central to his creative process. By linking Donuts (2006) to concepts like “disabled gesture” and “activist affordances,” the session invites new ways of thinking about rhythm, production, and accessible percussion education.
Gina Ryan - Mind Play: A book of sound poems for prepared marimba
While prepared piano is well-known through the work of John Cage, prepared mallet percussion remains relatively rare. This presentation introduces Mind Play: A book of sound poems for prepared marimba, a collection that explores unique sound combinations through carefully limited materials and ranges. Drawing on techniques from composers like Setabundhu and Weinberg, the talk combines performance and discussion of how poetic form, material experimentation, and percussion practice intersect.
Jérémie Carrier - Polytempo experimentation: How does it work and why is it so viral?
Polytempo videos have taken over social media, featuring the same part played at different speeds—fascinating listeners and raising new creative questions. This presentation shares a journey from viral inspiration to original composition, culminating in The Pendulum Experience, a work for 15 independent tempi. Drawing on the legacies of Reich and Nancarrow, the talk explores how modern tools and perception research can shape new approaches to rhythmic layering.
Joseph Chang - Symmetrical Structures in Xenakis’s Okho: At the Intersection of Mathematics and Literature
While most studies of Xenakis focus on his mathematical processes, this presentation examines how his deep interest in classical Greek literature—particularly the rhetorical device of chiasmus—informs the structure of Okho (1989). By analyzing palindromes, symmetrical forms, and evolving chiastic patterns built with rhythmic sieves, the talk uncovers how Xenakis weaves themes of order and chaos. This approach reveals a powerful intersection between ancient literary ideas and contemporary compositional technique.
Marvin Burock - Joe Morello -- An Insider's View
My presentation will begin by exploring legendary jazz drummer Joe Morello’s approach to technical development. This will include a discussion on wrist, forearm, and finger development including the three “pressures”, as well as his use of the level system for accenting. It will also shed light on Joe’s practice routines and the method books that he used for technical development. My presentation will also examine Joe’s approach to the drum set from a music perception and cognition perspective. This will include sharing some of his insights on phrasing, time feel, tempo, and dynamics. The information in my presentation is based on more than twenty years as Joe’s pupil and assistant.
Matthew Coley - Heartland Marimba, North America’s Keyboard Percussion Organization, Presents a Retrospective of 100 Years of Mallet Ensembles
Founded in 2014, the CMPR has grown into a leading institution dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of mallet percussion. This presentation traces the history of the Center and explores its archival work, highlighting early 20th-century North American marimba ensembles and rare recordings. With a focus on education, preservation, and performance, the CMPR connects historic legacies to a sustainable future for the art form.
Michel Deschênes - Exploring 35 Years of Percussion Development in New Brunswick: A Journey of Passion and Dedication
Explore 35 years of percussion history in New Brunswick, focusing on the Canada Youth and Music Program’s impact. See how it boosted percussion enrollment at Université de Moncton and built a loyal concert audience. Discover new composers, evolving percussion repertoire, and modern, accessible materials—plus innovative video previews. A fascinating look at percussion’s past, present, and future in our region.
Ryan Drew - Percussive paratextuality and cymbalic spaces: marginalia as reading and writing in percussion
This paper explores how percussionists uniquely interact with musical scores through marginalia—drawings, notes, markings, and diagrams—that help interpret and personalize the music. Using an autoethnographic approach and communication theory, it examines how factors like genre, geography, learning styles, and culture influence these annotations. Based on the author’s orchestral experience, the study uses surveys and interviews to analyze the psychological and social aspects of percussionists’ engagement with formal musical texts.
Shawn Mativetsky - Rudimentaal: Building Bridges Between Western and Indian Drumming Traditions
Western drummers often find North Indian tabla rhythms complex and daunting. Shawn Mativetsky’s Rudimentaal bridges Indian and Western drumming by adapting tabla repertoire for rudimental snare drum. This approach makes tabla rhythms accessible to Western percussionists, preserving key rhythmic elements while enhancing skills like timing, phrasing, and improvisation—offering a meaningful way to diversify snare drum study and deepen appreciation of North Indian classical music.
Nadia Azar - Barriers and facilitators to including injury prevention education within drum kit curricula: Perceptions of independent instructors giving private lessons
Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) are a major concern for drummers, yet few learn prevention during training. This study interviewed 12 private drum instructors about including PRMD prevention (PrevEd) in their teaching. Results revealed key facilitators—like instructors’ beliefs and available resources—and barriers such as knowledge limits. Most participants saw the benefits of PrevEd as outweighing challenges. These insights will help develop resources to support instructors in preventing PRMDs, ultimately improving drummers’ health and quality of life.