Renowned for his "one-handed rolls," his complete mastery of mallet independence, his numerous textural sustaining techniques and his use of birch-handle mallets, Leigh Howard Stevens was born in Orange, New Jersey, U.S.A, March 9, 1953. He attended the Eastman School of Music 1971-1975, and graduated with academic honours and was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Music.Subsequently, he travelled to Auckland, New Zealand in the 1972 for advanced studies with Vida Chenoweth, with whom he obtained additional coaching in 1975.
From 1975 to 1978, he taught percussion at Nazareth College of Rochester while writing Method of Movement for Marimba, a book which details some aspects of his unique system of four-mallet technique and which is now a standard text in many college percussion programs. This book has been translated into four languages.
In 1976, he performed at the first Percussive Arts Society International Convention , where he introduced to percussionists from around the world his one-handed rolls, birch handled "slap-less" mallets, rotary stroke types, "Stevens grip" and other "revolutionary" techniques that are now accepted as "standard" in many parts of the world.
In addition to performing exclusively on an extended-range Malletech Marimba of his own design, he serves as a consultant and conducts educational masterclasses for Malletech (He has been awarded four U. S. Patents for marimba design).
Mr. Stevens is a Professor of Marimba of the Royal Academy of Music, London since 1997.
From 1975 to 1978, he taught percussion at Nazareth College of Rochester while writing Method of Movement for Marimba, a book which details some aspects of his unique system of four-mallet technique and which is now a standard text in many college percussion programs. This book has been translated into four languages.
In 1976, he performed at the first Percussive Arts Society International Convention , where he introduced to percussionists from around the world his one-handed rolls, birch handled "slap-less" mallets, rotary stroke types, "Stevens grip" and other "revolutionary" techniques that are now accepted as "standard" in many parts of the world.
In addition to performing exclusively on an extended-range Malletech Marimba of his own design, he serves as a consultant and conducts educational masterclasses for Malletech (He has been awarded four U. S. Patents for marimba design).
Mr. Stevens is a Professor of Marimba of the Royal Academy of Music, London since 1997.