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Custom designed exclusively for The Miller Machine.

La Boheme - Mio Chang

Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.

Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.

"Some tips to play La Boheme with a reduced one player part.

Act 2:
Marching Snare Drum - Ludwig 6.5"x14" for main, Yamaha 10" for orchestra in pit and the Sonor 5.5" for additional parts from the end of the scene (no Banda this time). Except for the Yamaha 10" the other two snares had loosened top heads. Bass drum and hi-hat cymbals with attachment were used instead of piatti. I played both pedals with the right foot and used my hands for the bells, xylophone, snare and triangle. The reason I used two bass drums is that I think the bass drum in this opera is very noticeable. 36" is tuned as deep as it can go and the 26" is like a marching bass drum.

Act 3:
The recorded chime part is triggered on the sequencer while playing a one handed roll on the timpani. The sound comes from the back side of the stage. The wine glass is original in Act 3. I was holding the bottom of the glass between my thumb and index finger while the middle finger played the triangle (see photo). Actually these two wine glasses were completely in the same key.

Bass Drum Mallets:
It called for wood and leather mallets (which I made myself) and a couple mallets from Tom Gauger (one with a bigger head and a staccato one).

Timpani Mallets:
I made my own timpani mallets and a friend of mine made me some using flannel. I used Malletech mallets for the xylophone and bells and a pair of old Musser vibe mallets for the cymbals.

Parts went from impossible to possible with my Miller Machine. I couldn't have imagined my musical life without it.

All of the percussion and timpani books were from Touchdown Productions."

Instruments:

  • Premier 30" and 22.5" Timpani
  • Ludwig 36" Bass Drum w/Yamaha Bass Drum Pedal and Danmar Bass Drum Spurs
  • WFL 26" Bass Drum (1940's, original spurs) with Speed King Pedal
  • Korogi Desktop Xylophone
  • Deagan Bells
  • Ludwig 6.5" x 14" Supraphonic Snare Drum
  • Sonor 5.5" x 14" Snare Drum
  • Yamaha 10" x 4 3/4" Piccolo Snare Drum
  • Pearl Mallet Tray
  • Miller Machine with Alan Abel 6" Triangle
  • Miller Machine with Ludwig 8" Triangle
  • Wine Glasses (2)

Cymbals:

  • Sabian 18" AA Crash Cymbal
  • Sabian 18" AA Orchestral Suspended Cymbal
  • Zildjian 18" Piatti
  • Zildjian 16" and 18" Hi-Hats (16" on top of 18") Mounted on a Pearl Hi-Hat Stand attached to Bass Drum with a Tama Hi-Hat Attachment Clamp

Electronics:

  • Yamaha QY300 Sequencer

Plastic bag between timpani and snare drum is a stick tray used as a quick change! It works! Try it!

La Boheme - International - Mio Chang
July 2015

Mio Chang's setup for La Boheme at the Hamming Theater in Tokyo, Japan.

"After a grueling four years at SUNY I still had one theory class left to finish. I was really depressed. A classmate of mine recommended me for a tour of a Broadway show. This completely changed the course of my life."
  • 7 min read
"When I first got the call to start working on Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, I was curious about which era the show was going to focus on. Their career began in the early 1960’s and they’re still releasing albums today."
"The unique part of Groundhog Day was that the drummer had to play on stage, in a groundhog costume, wearing a giant groundhog head. Since I could barely see out of the head, it was impossible to read a chart (and there wasn’t a music stand), so it had to be memorized."
  • 4 min read
Paul Hansen's setup for Bruce at Seattle Rep in Seattle, Washington.
Patrick Lehosky's percussion setup for In the Heights at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale, New York.
Jay Mack's setup for the National Tour of If/Then at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington.
Steve Gadd's drum solo from the track "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". From the album Live Stuff (out of print) from the legendary 1970's New York based band Stuff.
Robbie Ameen's drum solo from the track "Spring Fling".

Gene Krupa's drum solo from "Gene's Blues" from the album Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich released November 1955.

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