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
