It’s been a long-standing dream to find a vibraphone and find a way to challenge the students to play this instrument.
Ever since I saw Stefon Harris play at the SF Jazz Center, I’ve been amazed by the vibraphone – a member of the mallet family that has been adopted fully into the jazz idiom. He composed cutting edge new music on his vibraphone for him and his band and it was life changing to see his expertise and virtuosity on an instrument I knew nothing about and have rarely ever heard.
Our new vibraphone is completely acoustic, but you’ll notice a plug connected to it… what’s that for?
Well, there are two motors that spin metal rods with little dampeners in the sound tubes, creating a variable vibrato. There’s a control box that can spin them faster and more slowly, depending on how much vibrato you want. And similarly to a piano, there’s a mechanical sustain pedal, making it more of a chordal instrument. Yes, chords can be played utilizing three to six mallets.
The vibraphone has a mighty acoustic tone that can be either a solo instrument in front of the band or an accompanying one, playing chords with the rhythm section.
Some famous players of the vibraphone are the aforementioned Stefon Harris, and the greats Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson. Gary Burton is another famous vibraphonist.
My hope is you’ll get to hear this amazing instrument featured prominently in the next WSP concert. Many thanks to our Grandparent donor who made it happen for us with a donation directed towards the purchase of the instrument.
The WSP music department welcomes instrumental donations to help foster our winds and strings programs. If you have an instrument lying around unused, please consider contacting one of us music teachers to see if it can be used in the program.
Coming to one of our campus tours or open houses is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Waldorf Education and experience our school. They include an overview of the Waldorf philosophy and curriculum, detailed information about our school, a walk through some of the classrooms, and time to speak directly with members of the faculty and students. All events end with a Q & A session.
We offer two ways to catch a glimpse into the unique Waldorf approach to education which our our high school and middle school students experience: Wednesday Tours and Saturday Open Houses. Both provide opportunities to meet faculty and current students, view student work, tour our campus, and participate in question & answer sessions. Each provides a slightly different window into our school, and we encourage you to come to both for a full picture of what we offer.
As our tours take place when classes are in session, they provide prospective high school and middle school students and parents a rare opportunity to visit and observe active classes. There is no better way to experience the spirit students and teachers bring to their work than to see them in action during the school day. We invite you to come take a look.
Tours provide the opportunity to visit and observe classes in session and allow you to meet our faculty and students, view student work, tour our campus and participate in a question & answer session. Please plan to attend the entire program.
Sign up here, to reserve your space. High School Open Houses and Tours are for both parents and students. Both are appropriate for students 8th grade and older, or 7th grade students looking ahead to high school.
Middle school students wishing to learn more about grades 6 – 8 would be best served attending one of the Middle School Tours.
Our Open Houses invite students and parents to experience and participate in sample lessons and allow you to meet our faculty and students, view student work, tour our campus and participate in a question & answer session. Please plan to attend the entire program.
High School Open Houses and Tours are for both parents and students. Both are appropriate for students 7th grade and older. Middle school students wishing to learn more about grades 6 – 8 would be best served attending one of the Middle School Tours.
Tours provide the opportunity to visit and observe classes in session and allow you to meet our faculty and students, view student work, tour our campus and participate in a question & answer session. Please plan to attend the entire program.
Sign up here, to reserve your space. High School Open Houses and Tours are for both parents and students. Both are appropriate for students 8th grade and older, or 7th grade students looking ahead to high school.
Middle school students wishing to learn more about grades 6 – 8 would be best served attending one of the Middle School Tours.
