MYS Percussion Ensemble Makes a Comeback
Aaron Isakson is the MYS percussion coach and director of the MYS Percussion Ensemble.
The genesis of the MYS Percussion Ensemble, like many innovations during the 2020–21 school year, was a pandemic-era project that arose out of necessity. MYS percussion coach Aaron Isakson recalls how, in order for percussionists to participate remotely, “parents showed up and we helped them put timpani into the back of their vehicles . . . you can get 2 timpani in a minivan!” For the 2021 Spring Concert, the ensemble gave a recorded performance without a live audience, and participants have been asking to reassemble the group ever since. Devin, an 11th grader now in Symphony Orchestra, is the only percussionist remaining in MYS from that season (the others have since graduated). After a four-year hiatus, the Percussion Ensemble has finally returned. But why now? Aaron highlights this season’s percussion section as “an exceptional group who are always looking for more to do, more challenges, and opportunities to play other instruments in the percussion family than what the orchestra offers on a regular basis.”
In most orchestral works, the percussion section primarily plays a supporting role, adding various amounts of color and rhythm to complement the other sections. In a percussion ensemble, however, players have the opportunity to play the melody, harmony parts, and learn how to accompany one another in real time. Music written for percussion ensemble also involves a wider range of rhythmic material and instruments than what’s typical of the standard repertoire—marimba, vibraphone, congas, bongos, and special effects like the vibraslap and sizzle cymbal, which “has little rivets hanging from it so when you touch it, it vibrates and sizzles for a long time,” Aaron explains.
This newly revived Percussion Ensemble has begun rehearsals on Equinox by Michael Tompkins, a piece with parts of varying degrees of difficulty, allowing musicians of different skill levels to play together well. This has enabled Aaron to invite musicians from other sections to join. “The main thing students in a percussion ensemble need to be able to do is count, listen, and read music. So many of our students here at MYS are extremely talented in all three of those categories. I can train them to make the sounds and use the techniques needed to be a good enough percussionist to play along with the rest of us. But they are already bringing superior listening and ensemble skills to the table.” A few adventurous violinists and low brass players from Symphony Orchestra have volunteered to round out the ensemble and gain percussion experience.
At the MYS Spring Concert on April 27, the Percussion Ensemble will take center stage in Benson Great Hall. With percussion being a highly visual family of instruments, this performance will move the players up from the back of the orchestra, allowing the audience to see exactly what the percussionists are doing. “I think many times when people come to the orchestra, they end up focusing their eyes on the percussion section even though their ears are focused everywhere on the stage. We will create a lot of sound and energy and display for our MYS audience—which is already very knowledgeable—some things that they have never heard before from our group.”
