AMA Verlag Playing Handpan

The handpan is a relatively new instrument—unlike classical instruments, it doesn't have centuries of tradition to draw from. As a result, a distinctive playing style has yet to fully emerge, and only a handful of instructional books are dedicated to it. Techniques from older percussion instruments are often adapted for handpan playing, but a uniquely handpan-specific approach is still evolving.

A fresh approach to handpan playing

In Playing Handpan, drummer and experimental percussionist Kay Rauber introduces a creative and inspiring method for working with the instrument. Rather than focusing only on established techniques, he encourages rhythmic exploration and improvisation, opening up new ways of interacting with the handpan. His method invites you to discover the instrument's potential through play, creativity, and personal expression.

What's inside:

• Chapter 1: From the First Beat to the First Rhythms
  • Playing posture
  • Practice tips
  • Basic techniques
  • Key hand positions
  • Foundational exercises
  • Introducing the “circle” concept
  • Exercises and rhythms in the Circle of 8
  • Fill-ins within the Circle of 8
• Chapter 2: Shape Playing, the Splitstroke, and Chords
  • Playing in geometric shapes
  • The splitstroke technique
  • Chords in an 8th-note pulse
• Chapter 3: Arpeggios and the Circle of 16
  • Understanding the Circle of 16
  • Rhythmic patterns in the Circle of 16
  • Arpeggios
  • The seesaw motion with thumb and index
  • Combining arpeggios with seesaw technique
• Chapter 4: World Rhythms on the Handpan
  • Global grooves reimagined within the Circle of 8
• Chapter 5: Advanced Techniques and Creative Expansion
  • New hand movements
  • The importance of rests
  • Playing as one musician with two voices
  • From musical fragments to full compositions
  • Felt mallets, brushes, and more
  • Integrating shakers and bells
  • Playing in duets
• Looking ahead