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Jade Frank

@timpanijade

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cane wielding timpanist & marching arts educator
@rccdrums @thesispercussion @spartapercussion

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⚠️ flashing light warning for drum/pedaling graphic

here is an excerpt of eric sammut's libertango marimba arrangement... on timpani 😀

greatly inspired by watching RCC 2026 front ensemble play an arrangement of libertango as their etude, go check that out if you haven't already!

i did some baby's-first-EQing to try to get rid of some rattling on the 32", other than that the audio is untouched (most importantly, pitch and speed are unedited). i tried to get rid of it in real life, but i had very limited options at the time of recording (hence the paper towel by the gauge rod). PSA: typically you should not put things near the moving parts of timpani like this, unless you are doing some form of maintenance. i only did this because i didn't use the 32" pedal for this excerpt, and i set the pedal to the pitch i wanted before placing the anti-ratting technology... (the paper towel). it helped get rid of maybe 10% of the rattling 🥲 anyways hope you enjoy!

#timpani #kettledrum #percussion #drums #marimba by @timpanijade

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3 months ago

with thesis and sparta auditions around the corner, i wanted to upload this recording of the audition excerpt. since there was no timpani in this show originally, i had the privilege of getting to write the timpani part for this!

if you are using this recording for reference, here's some things to keep in mind:

1. i wrote this part entirely in service of everything going on around it. i aimed to make it still engaging to play, but balance is KEY
2. don't take this clip as gospel; there will be different tendencies in this recording than the groups that will play this at the audition. also, while my drum choices may make sense for this set of timpani, the set of timpani at auditions may have different range capabilities. adaptation is one of the most important skills to have as a timpanist auditioning for an independent world ensemble
3. ... i think i damaged my iphone mic from the hundreds of videos ive recorded of me playing timpani, so the audio quality isn't super great (for example, there's a consistent buzzing noise that's thankfully less apparent with the thesis audio applied)... and my amateur video editing skills may have made it so the original audio and my video aren't perfectly aligned. BUT it should still give a better idea of how all the pieces come together! i definitely want to revisit this when i have a better recording set up

audio is taken from the flomarching recording of Thesis at WGI prelims in 2024. because of the educational and transformative nature of this content, i believe it falls under fair use. please reach out to me if there's any issue!

#timpani #wgi #winterpercussion #kettledrum #percussion by @timpanijade

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a month ago

yes i still play timpani even tho i aged out

i've also been working on my mallet playing and realized these four bars of rotation 2 fit the range of timpani decently well.

i've been super busy irl as of late, but i have lots more timpani ideas (some bite sized like this and some longer stuff too) plus some solo repertoire i've been working on. maybe one day i'll even have a better recording setup. so stay tuned!

#timpani #kettledrum #percussion #drums #marimba? #music by @timpanijade

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10 months ago

i love timpani so much. i've realized a large part of why is the coordination and control i feel over my body when i play. this is something my physical issues have taken away from other aspects of my life. i don't say this to make you feel bad, but because i need those who have supported me, encouraged me, helped me with things i couldn't do, accommodated for me, wrote awesome timpani parts for me, stood up for me, and helped me become a better player to know how much they've done for me.

RCC gave me the best age out i could've asked for. everyone around me - admin, staff, and members - have been so kind to me, not only supporting and hyping up my playing, but also helping me whenever i needed it. even when i wouldn't ask, i'd always have people come up to me to check if i needed anything. the people i got to perform with are incredibly talented, and it's been a huge honor getting to march with them. the staff helped me grow so much as a musician while still being incredibly encouraging of my playing. the music i've gotten to play this year, both in the show and our etudes, has been incredibly engaging and has pushed me to be the best i could be.

this season's show resonated with me deeply. the idea that going through struggles makes the good moments of your life shine brighter is an ideal that has helped me be happy despite the pain i am in. it was really special to march a show about that concept.

to everyone who's ever supported me - friends, family, current and former staff, etc.- thank you for everything. many of you have gone above and beyond in providing for me. every bit of support means so much, even just one interaction.

being able to march a few seasons, let alone all the way to my age out in spite of my lifelong health issues is something i am incredibly grateful for. my marching career hasn't been perfect - i've faced disappointment, self doubt, etc. but the hard times have taught me so much and helped me grow - and the support i've gotten massively outweighs all of my bad experiences. thank you for everyone who believed in me when i didn't believe in myself.

excited to continue playing timpani, and to see the future of the activity. 🫶🐸 by @timpanijade

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a year ago

the final timpani cam of my marching career is now posted! 😱

rcc 2025 timpani cam - link in bio for full video by @timpanijade

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a year ago

this is the hardest thing i've played. it's also the most fun i've had playing timpani.

link in bio for full video. thank you to everyone who made RCC's PASIC performance possible. by @timpanijade

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2 years ago

this season marked the 10th anniversary of the first season of winter i ever marched. i was lucky enough to have gone to dayton 10 years ago and see the immense talent of independent world groups (with many of them being in the state i lived in! just hundreds of miles south).

despite my younger self dreaming of marching in socal, by the time the covid hiatus was over, i thought it was impossible - it was too far, it was too expensive, my health was too poor, etc.

but after some gentle (but persistent) convincing from my friends, and after attending my first rcc clinic this year, i knew i had to audition. and thankfully, the staff gave me a chance.

thanks to the immense efforts of my friends (new and old), family, and the staff, i was able to march rcc.

being in rcc has met and exceeded my wildest expectations. it's been an honor to perform alongside such insane talent. getting to hang out with so many kind (and also really fun and funny) people has been awesome. the music for the show and the etudes was the most fun i've had playing timpani, and the challenges they offered caused me to grow so much as a player. being educated from such amazing FE staff who always seem to know exactly what to say has helped me improve a lot over the course of the season. having someone specialized in timpani come in and teach me is a great privilege i got this season that was extremely helpful for my growth (shoutout to alexis). staff from literally every facet of the program showed me an insane amount of support. the accommodation and understanding from both staff and members about my physical disability made it possible for me to march at all.

i am incredibly grateful for the staff having enough faith in me to let me in, for the friends i got to march with, and for the immense support i've received throughout this season.

thank you rcc. until next time 🧡🐯

action shot creds: @jessicareguaphoto by @timpanijade

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2 years ago

RCC timpani cam up now 😱 link in bio by @timpanijade

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2 years ago

bdb timpani cam dropped. link in bio. hope you enjoy 🫡 by @timpanijade

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3 years ago

it doesn't get any easier. that's something i've had to come to accept as each marching season passes, as my health has never been great. this applies to this past season especially, as i had some unexpected issues thrown at me midseason. it's hard.

the fact i was able to march this season is a testament to the immense love, support, and understanding i have received from BDB. not only did i make it through, but i was able to thrive. this was the most challenging and fun timpani book i've ever played. i got to play alongside so many talented musicians and overall amazing people. the FE staff were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, allowing me to grow so much musically. the amount of kindness and support from fellow members, staff, spectating friends, parents, and even just random people who happen to see me play has been insane. the kind words and hype have been incredibly motivating. huge shoutout to everyone who helped me deal with my equipment (whether it was pushing, lifting, loading, etc.) and the members and staff who checked in on me and stopped me from overextending myself.

it was hard. but it was so worth it. i knew this when i would sit behind the drums and have the time of my life playing. i knew this when going to gas stations or ubering to dutch bros with my friends to acquire delicious ice cold sugary drinks. i knew this when i was able to set up so fast pre-show that i actually could catch my breath before the show started. i knew this when i would have a meal so good it would magically end up all over my hands and face (shoutout to the chili dog). i knew this laughing about whatever silly new pit inside joke just dropped. i knew this in the glimpses of down time where i could just chill out with my friends for a bit.

thank you BDB. though it was the most physically taxing season for me, it was also the most rewarding. thank you to everyone who made it possible for me to march and for everyone who has supported me, whether it was this season or at any point in my marching career. it means the world. by @timpanijade

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3 years ago

LAST FULL DAY OF REHEARSAL!!!! Here's another mtm:

Name: jade (not julia)
Age: ♾️
Instrument: timpani
Experience: thesis '22 '23
bdb '22 '23
Fun Fact: i like julia's marimba
Favorite Auxiliary Instrument: vibraslap
Favorite Loading Tactic: GOING UP CLEAR *whiiiiiiiiiir* by @timpanijade

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3 years ago

i am a product of the love and faith of the norcal community. this season with thesis was a culmination of all the love i've received in my near decade of marching arts. i would not still be marching if it weren't for the massive amount of support i have gotten from this community. from the thesis staff, from my peers, from the random spectators watching our lot, from members of other groups, from those i used to march with, from my former staff. thank you to everyone who helped me grow musically and as a person. thank you to those who helped me feel good about my playing. thank you to everyone who made it possible for me to march at all despite the physical limitations i face. thank you all for believing in me. this community is something i cherish and has made every struggle worth it. i have had so much fun and have so much love for thesis this season, and that is something i will always remember. thank you. until next time 💡💙🧡

(swipe to end for a surprise 🐸) by @timpanijade

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3 years ago