Theoretically informed training improves accent production in percussion

Theories of accent production lack empirical data supporting how notes are marked as accented in performance. The present study used percussion performance as a lens to investigate how movements of the performer’s mallets, hands, and wrists contribute to marking notes as accented and how such movements may be refined via training. Experienced percussionists completed a single experimental session where they practiced an excerpt scored for multiple drums. During training, an instructor provided theoretically informed coaching prompts designed to improve performance quality and effectiveness of accent production between successive performances of the excerpt. Motion capture technology measured movements of the mallets, hands, and wrists along specific phases of the accent trajectory: the preparatory upstroke, accent downstroke, post-accent upstroke, and following-note downstroke. Analyses revealed that at post-training, the position of both mallets during the accent downstroke were higher than pre-training. Mallet velocity was also greater in post-training vs. pre-training for the accent downstroke. The average hand position was higher in post-training vs. pre-training for the preparatory upstroke. These changes in movement kinematics coincided with increased effectiveness of accent production in post- vs. pre-training performances, as evaluated by trained judges. The results were interpreted with regards to unique mechanisms that give rise to accent production in relation to mallet and upper-limb movements, and how such mechanisms can be applied towards translating theory into practice for improving accent production in percussion.