Secret Words
1.) Logistics - anything to do with planning and preparation. Instruments being used, amount of space, setup, travel and transportation, type of venue, etc.

Whether the piece calls for solo vibraphone or 30+ instruments, there is a lot that goes into planning for any rehearsal and event. It is important to consider how much time is needed for setup and teardown in addition to a rehearsal. If it takes 20 minutes to setup and another 20 to teardown I would hope to be rehearsing/playing for a minimum of 30-45 minutes. Anytime I have a rehearsal I try to leave at least an hour open before in order to setup and still have enough time to warmup. Percussion takes time. It is usual for us to be the first to arrive and last to leave. Understanding the amount of time required for the logistics alone is crucial for a successful performance.


2.)  Setup - arrangement/layout of instruments.

Setup can include instruments, mallets, and stands. How everything is placed so the percussionist can learn the flow/choreography of the layout. Setups can take time to develop to find the most efficient flow, the goal is the have the least amount of movement between instruments as possible. Also consider the audience, how you are facing them (on an angle? straight on? in an arc?) We hear with our eyes so it's important to consider how we visually represent our music.


3.) Choreography - the way we move around the instrument, changing of equipment and mallets.

Percussion is a very physical practice and part of that work includes navigating around the setup. I have personally spent time in the practice room in silence just moving around. Practicing mallet changes, shifting over to another instrument, or working through large leaps. Every instrument is different and requires a specific choreography. When you combine multiple instruments the choreography changes.


Misrepresentation
Drummer vs Percussionist

As a trained musician I want others to know of ALL of the skillsets I possess in addition to drums. I feel that percussion is a more diverse term that is inclusive of drums but also represents other instruments including but not limited to: mallet instruments (xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, etc) timpani, drum set, marching percussion, world percussion (congas, bongos, maracas) accessories (cymbals, bass drum, triangle) toys (typewriter, slide whistle, Mahler hammer)