On an old piano in her grandparents’ house, Miranda Marler felt a spark of passion. When she picked up a violin, that passion grew. Over time, that passion would fan into the wildfire that burns inside of her today.
Now a percussionist, Marler’s flame burns on with no signs of being snuffed. Despite this great flame, Marler still hasn’t lost the stagefright.
”My ritual is gaslighting myself,” Marler said about preparing for a performance. “I tell myself, like, ‘Nah, it’s not that big of a deal.’”
Her gaslighting helps her prepare for performances, but Marler remains humble off the stage. She talked about the pieces she plays as if they were something anyone could do. When speaking about her instruments, she would make complicated concepts sound simple.
“She’s always been just super humble and just super dedicated,” Lauren Dyson, Marler’s sister, said.
At her senior percussion recital, Marler played several pieces, both solo and with accompaniment, one being “Afta-Stuba” composed by Mark Ford.
The piece had Marler, Adam Tillberg and Jameson Parks all playing the same marimba at the same time. In multiple parts of the piece, the three marimbists would circle the marimba, each playing their own melodies that merged together in one beautiful harmony. As they circled, they sometimes would be playing the instrument from the side or behind it.
Marler made it seem easy, saying, “You know, I try to keep the distance the same.”
Dyson said Marler struggled immensely with the piece, but she never shied away from the challenge.
“It was just so amazing to, like, remember that memory three years ago (of her playing it) and then look at her doing it perfectly today,” Dyson said.
According to Dyson, Marler’s humility is born of feeling like she’s not good enough. She tends to compare herself to others, especially in her classes.
“Even when I was talking to her yesterday, she was like ‘Oh, well I’m not (as) talented as … other people … I’m in classes with,’” Dyson said.
Dyson encourages Marler by reminding her that even if someone is better, Marler is still young and has plenty of time to learn and grow her skills.
The hardest part about growing is finding time to practice. Being a percussionist with roommates, Marler doesn’t have the opportunity to practice in her apartment, so she relies on using the practice rooms in Duerksen Fine Arts Center, but only for smaller instruments. To practice larger instruments, Marler has to use the percussion studio, but there are often lessons taking place. The next option is using the dance studio down the hall, but that room is also often occupied.
“So sometimes we can be in there, but if there’s a class or rehearsal going on in there, it’s like, you can’t play … So it’s kinda like, practice at 2 a.m.,” Marler said. “It’s difficult.”
To make practicing harder for Marler, she works three jobs. Her weekends are spent at a retail job for Sally Beauty Supply. She also works for the Performance Facilities, which has her working backstage for various productions, making sure the production flows well. Her third job is at Derby High School as their percussion technician.
“I’m like ‘Yes. I got a job there,’” Marler said. “Derby is a great school. They have some good people there for their band staff.”
Marler’s boyfriend, Kyle Houston, said that her work ethic is “astonishing” to him.
“She knows what she needs to get done at all moments,” Houston said. “She knows that she’s going to get them done, even if she does not want to.”
Although Marler has a busy schedule, Houston said they still find time to spend together at least once a week. The two moved in together on May 1, and Houston said he’s looking forward to summer.
“There’s definitely busy seasons,” Houston said. “The summer is when, like, that’s when we get to see each other the most.”
During the summer, Marler will have less school work and will be able to focus mainly on her job at Derby High School.
“When the class — like the band classes — are in session, I’ll be with the kids, and just give them some little pointers,” Marler said. “… But when they’re not in the class, I’m working on their instruments … making sure that the instruments, just, are ready for them to play.”
Marler hopes that the job will be a good foot-in to a future in music education. Marler does have plans of performing in an orchestra, but she wants to settle down eventually in the future and teach music.
Miranda Marler’s flame of passion burns bright, and she has no plan of ever letting it snuff out.
Marler will receive a bachelor’s in music performance in May and plans on getting a performer’s certificate at WSU. Afterward, she is going to get her master’s in music performance at WSU.
