Xylophone playing techniques developed from cultural diversity in Thai and Western music to create new knowledge for music industry and enhance cultural values of Thailand

Abstract

         This creative research was aimed at 1) studying musical techniques for playing Thai and contemporary percussion instruments from experts, Phawat Luangsuntorn, comparing with Western musical instrument techniques 2) creating xylophone -playing techniques from the knowledge of Thai musical percussion instrument playing for use in contemporary music performances with specific application for playing "The Concerto for Piano, Percussion, and Winds" composed by Assistant Professor Jinnawat Mansap performed by the researcher, Kasem Thipmethakul, as a percussion soloist. The research steps included the following: 1) studying the relevant knowledge 2) creating techniques and 3) testing, analyzing as well as practical application. The research findings were as follows. 1) The techniques for playing percussion instruments from Thai music such as sticks- holding, sticks-holding position were different from Western music. 2) The application of techniques for holding the sticks and playing Thai musical instruments from playing alto xylophones combined with Western techniques could help enable percussion musicians to learn to play xylophones significantly faster. The researcher obtained study results as "Kasem Technique", which could be summarized into seven topics as follows: 1. sticks-holding methods 2. hand placement 3. fingers- using mechanisms 4. wrist vibration 5. standing posture and lateral movement 6. volume control 7. volume control grading. As to results from that creative research, after used in public performances, it was found that "Kasem Technique" could help reduce practice time, could be used to play music actually in two to three months.