Small Steps

This piece can be played as a marimba solo or include bass and drums. The inspiration for SMALL STEPS came to me when I was sitting at my piano while my 1-year- old was playing on the floor behind me. She was just learning how to walk, and her toddling around was so endearing that I started playing music to go along with her. She kept trying to get up into her little chair while also holding her baby doll and a book. Every time she would get in her chair, one or the other would fall and she’d have to get up and try again. I was so entertained by her persistence, I just had to provide the right soundtrack. I continued to flesh out the idea until it was complete, and then I moved it to my marimba and loved the stride-piano/ragtime style on the instrument. I wanted to encourage other classically-trained marimbists to try improvisation and experience a small jazz combo. For years I called this tune “Toddler Song” but wanted to open up the listener’s imagination and call it “Small Steps”. When I play it, it is about my daughter on that day years ago. For you, it might be about your own small steps towards whatever moment of joy you are trying to reach. It also might be your first small step into improvising on the marimba. Whatever your inspiration, it is a light-hearted song about persistence in seeking the things that bring us joy.