What a great podcast! Thanks for this guys!

The marimba sounds purty nice too!

Wow, nice work!

What a treat to get to hear Matt play...I love that piece at the end of the 'cast.

This was great. I have been talking about dynamics with my piano teacher. This helped me put a few things more into focus. Thanks Matt!

Thanks, guys!

Happy to hear that the show helped, Dar. Piano is a great dynamic instrument too, as the responsiveness of the action makes the keys lend themselves brilliantly to both quiet and loud.

Ok, ok, ok..... I hate to be rude in this civilized day and age, so I'll be as clinical as possible :)

Great subject, great instrument, great effort.
NO doubt the kid likes the music and the discipline and all that..however, the quality of the playing is just a tad, shall we say, wanting...

He knows the terms intellectually but has not had a chance to really develop them in ensemble or other context. As such, his hands are not properly functioning and his lack of skill is evident.

Now, I know you weren't expecting this from a comment box, after all, this isn't a jury, but , honestly Kevin, if you want to attract more listeners you really have to up the talentedness-of-it-all and get a kick-ass virtuoso.
Now, as for virtuosi go, I'm no Garden Stone, or Gigantisimo Burrito, but I can play a fast sequence. And yes, I mean, no, I havent't congraduated iethr. peasssssssssssssss

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but I find Matt to be a highly skilled and quite virtuosic marimbist.

Great shows keep them coming

Jon,

I'm not sure of your skill level as a musician, but one thing I would advise you to do before posting an insulting comment is to use spell check. You only demonstrate your own lack of "talentedness" by making remarks that sound foolish to an audience with a higher level of education than you obviously possess. You should think before you pass judgment.

Also, the last time I checked, Pandora isn't in the business of employing "kids" or people without skill. What musical talent can you demonstrate of your own? Can we hear this "fast sequence" that sets you aside from the talent we've already heard? Do you happen to have a podcast of your own that you can share with us? The reason I ask is because the extent of your vocabulary certainly astounds me, and I'm sure the listeners would be equally fascinated by how you would handle a segment of your own.

Keep on striving for excellence Jonny!

What an easy-to-understand explanation of dynamics with excellent examples. Thanks for continuing such a great podcast series.

It's really great to have links to all the different pieces referenced and extra materials. Eventually, I suspect one could get a great basic theory education here!

In response to Jon's comment, did you check out Matt's web page that's linked above? His list of music credits, sound samples, and blog entries sure make it sounds like he's had the opportunity to play "in ensemble" or in contexts other than this podcast.

Do you know Matt or something? Your comment sounds personal rather than critical... and ignorant.

If you want to become a professional musician, one of the first lessons you should learn is that other musicians are your colleagues, not competition. Maybe you'll learn that after you "congraduate."

Steve, Philip, Darrel, thanks for tuning in.

(Also, 'tis true that Matt has varied and wide-ranging ensemble experience.)

Hey guys what's with all the negativity??? Just becuz your musicians, yeah everyone is entitled to their opinion and at least Kevin put yours up and didn't shine it on, but come on, this isn't a football game, just a music lesson which by the way I enjoyed a lot, one prob Kevin, on lesson l8 and l9 I can only get the first song on each sample to play, must be a fluke somewhere, I'll check back to see what's up in the meantime I hope noone takes all the bad vibes to heart and we all find new and creative ways to say I think you suck if we don't like stuff. Peace be with you. ssrb

Another great podcast.

I found the comment re playing louder without playing faster to be quite relevant. A great piece that presents that challenge is Bolero.. which continues to build in energy and intensity throughout the entire piece, yet if play correctly never changes tempo. I think you'll find that any conductor who has done that piece will tell you that it is a great challenge for everyone to maintain tempo and not 'rush' the piece.

Ravel's Bolero! Yes yes yes. Great example, Cernenus. Absolutely, a great challenge for the conductor, the lead percussionist, and the whole orchestra.

And great to hear from you again, Sunshine/Rainbow. Peace be with you as well.

Music is life. Without music how could one live.I like to thank Pandora, you guys are number one. Thank you for giving life to my job everyday. Save the music; rock on,Play it loud

Hey guys what's with all the negativity??? Just becuz your musicians, yeah everyone is entitled to their opinion and at least Kevin put yours up and didn't shine it on, but come on, this isn't a football game, just a music lesson which by the way I enjoyed a lot, one prob Kevin, on lesson l8 and l9 I can only get the first song on each sample to play, must be a fluke somewhere, I'll check back to see what's up in the meantime I hope noone takes all the bad vibes to heart and we all find new and creative ways to say I think you suck if we don't like stuff. Peace be with you. ssrb

THANK YOU