We proudly support our KAT artist, Jesus Ramirez. He is a Spain-based percussionist, composer, and educator.

1. Which KAT instrument do you play? How many octaves?

I’m playing malletKAT GRAND PRO (4 oct.).

2. How long have you been playing it?

I have been palying it for more than a year. I bought it just to study at home. But later I discovered that it is a real, versatile, and wonderful instrument.

3. What do you like about it?

Many things. Sound possibilities, easy portability, editing ability, sensitivity, work versatility with sample editors, etc.... But if I have to choose, the best thing is how fun it is to explore new sounds and desire to discover sonorities with very little editing. I am still learning.

4. Can I hear more about "exploring sounds"?

I am using a model of malletKAT without any internal sound. I trigger sounds from Kontakt (Vsti), Korg, Yamaha, by connecting them with MIDI cable. I love exploring the ability of malletKAT. It can trigger multiple thing at same time, decide velocity curve, and so on. As a traditional mallet player, I use the vocabulary of mallet keyboards. I am still learning editing of malletKAT, such as expression and dynamics.

5. You are passionate about your education program. Do you recommend malletKAT to your students?

I was waiting for that question. Indeed, first with my children (the two are studying percussion), and later with my students, I have tried the educational possibilities of the master keyboards connected to midi-sampler and it is wonderful. In this aspect, malletKAT allows us, the keyboard-mallets player to have a master keyboard, with an appearance and size sufficiently similar to the instruments of decks used in the conservatories, schools of music etc. The possibility of "triggering" our different sounds (marimba, vibes, celesta, glockenspiel, bells, etc.) and any other sound or effect from the same instrument without the need to change the mallets, drum sticks, even playing with the hands. It offers the teacher the possibility of creating "sound magic" in the class, and in this way, arouse the curiosity of children and increase the interest of young people.

The possibilities offered by audio-visual technologies today, speaking of education, are GIANT. In web platforms like YyouTube, Spotify, Sound Cloud, etc, we find (thanks to a shared work) a lot of music, jazz play along, drumming, classical backing track, xylo and glockenspiel repertoire... etc. With a little effort of the teacher (I speak for myself), we can wave-edit these tracks and "shoot-mute" from our malletKAT with only one "shot" and then play as a play-along. This is just one example of its use for the study. 

Another wonderful example, if we speak of pedagogy utility and fun, is the possibility of "splitting" the instrument in two. Pottential timbral combinations (marimba-vibes // marimba-xilo // Timbal-orchestral percussion // drumset-anyone // etc.). Just like, using a pedal, switch to "control two" and change sounds.

Definitely, for me, the malletKAT is a wonderful instrument in:

Two aspects:

1- Economic: To be able to have all the instruments in one.

2- Musical: Having all the instruments, to be able to enjoy all the styles. (Classical, jazz, pop, etc.)

And at three levels:

1- Elementary Didactic: for its ability to make the study attractive and fun.

2- Pedagogical-medium: to offer immense possibilities of internal and external editing.

3- Professional-Advanced: For its high capacity and performance work in concert.

malletKAT for your class room. Any class room.