Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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THE PARADIGM SHIFT — Making fun of the tambourine is incredibly easy. We’ve all done it and for good reason.
Whether it’s the folk scene from the 60s, or “The Partridge Family,” or the fact that instrument toy sets always come with a clunky tambourine, the percussive instrument either has a goofy reputation or is seen as a nuisance in the hands of children. (Or, as a nuisance in the hands of the least skilled member of a bad local band — take your pick.)
But, as it turns out, the tambourine completely changes when it’s placed in the right hands.
When you watch this video, I’m guessing you’ll be just as surprised as I was to see a tambourine played with such skill that you are a bit ashamed you haven’t given the instrument more credence.
Gabriela Jiménez is a talented percussionist from Mexico who has experience with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, and teaches her craft at two different schools, according to Classic FM.
The solo evokes visions of the desert with sun, snakes, sand and a few cacti thrown in. It’s a pleasant journey that somehow makes you feel like you’re learning something meaningful during your 3.5 minute jaunt to arid country.