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GoodVibes

  • Percussion Clinic in Sunny Florida

    Kevin Lucas | July 16, 2023Last February I was asked to do a clinic and perform a concert for University of Central Florida (UCF) students in Orlando. It was a very interesting and surprising experience in very pleasant ways. Jeff Moore is the Dean of Fine Arts at UCF, and he also heads the percussion program. He does a wonderful […] Read More...
  • Getting Back into the Mallet Swing

    Kevin Lucas | March 13, 2023All of us have gone through periods in our lives when we have a hiatus from mallets. Many of us have recently had one because of the pandemic. The question is how we get back into a consistent routine after months after taking a break? I’m going to discuss this topic to help your students […] Read More...
  • A Day in the Life of a Freelance Percussionist

    Kevin Lucas | November 13, 2022In August, I performed three successful concerts at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, IL. It seemed routine and the shows went smoothly. But there were a lot of behind-the-scenes activities that took place leading up to the concerts that I play. A lot of trial and error, planning, songwriting, successes, failures, and everything under […] Read More...
  • Madison Scouts – All Star Alumni Concert

    Kevin Lucas | August 2, 2022On April 30, 2022, the Madison Scouts Alumni had an all-star reunion concert organized by former director Scott Stewart as a benefit for ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Scott chose some of the best members of the Madison Scouts from all time, consisting of members from many different decades. I will be discussing the […] Read More...
  • How to Get the Best Sound Out of a Marimba

    Kevin Lucas | March 18, 2022There is an equation to optimizing your students’ sound on the marimba. There are many factors involved. I am going to go over the basics in this article, so a fundamental understanding of the approach to the instrument is established.  First of all, having a quality instrument that is properly maintained is the first step. […] Read More...
  • Concert Auxiliary Percussion

    Kevin Lucas | February 23, 2022One of the most neglected aspects of percussion are auxiliary instruments. Students love to focus on drum set, snare drum, and mallets, however, auxiliary instruments play an important role.  Claves Claves are a unique sounding set of wood cylinders. In order to get the right sound, your student should make a fist with their left […] Read More...
  • Preparing a Marimba Work

    Kevin Lucas | January 19, 2022When it comes to preparing a marimba work, it is easy for your students to feel overwhelmed, especially if the work is extremely difficult. With the correct approach, the process does not have to be stressful, and it can even be enjoyable. I will give some helpful advice on how your students can prepare literature […] Read More...
  • How to Properly Maintain a Rosewood Marimba

    Kevin Lucas | December 18, 2021If you or your students are going to spend ten to fifteen thousand dollars on a rosewood marimba, knowing how to properly maintain the instrument so it will last a lifetime is very important. I am going to go over some very helpful advice regarding this topic. A marimba is meant to be a lifetime […] Read More...
  • Burton Grip and Stevens Grip for Marimba

    Kevin Lucas | November 12, 2021I always encourage my students to be proficient in both the Stevens Grip and the Burton Grip. It’s a misconception that one grip is better than the other. They both have situations where one grip gives advantages, as well as different styles of music. Both grips are excellent choices in the right situations. It is apples […] Read More...
  • Fall Preparations for Performances

    Kevin Lucas | October 9, 2021Being in college, or even high school, and trying to prepare for a mallet performance has challenges. There are a lot of factors involved that we don’t always consider as educators. Having been there many times in my life, I’m going to go over some of these challenges and how to help your students deal […] Read More...
  • Working Back into Mallets After a Long Break

    Kevin Lucas | September 7, 2021All mallet players have gone through periods in their lives where they have a hiatus from mallets. Many of us have recently had one because of the pandemic. The question is how do we get back into a consistent routine after months after taking a break? I’m going to discuss this topic to help your […] Read More...
  • Mallet Percussion and the Visual Arts

    Kevin Lucas | August 13, 2021I am going to discuss how percussion relates and can be influenced by the visual arts. I am also going to talk about a recent experience I had that really opened my mind to the realm of possibilities for percussion as an artform and how this concept can help your students.  I was recently asked by […] Read More...
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