In this episode of Orchestral Excerpt Insights, CSO Principal Percussion Cynthia Yeh demonstrates how a vibraphone can evoke the drama of Leonard Bernstein’s epic score from West Side Story. For Yeh, this excerpt comes alive when the player focuses on creating a scene and using the full capacity of the instrument. “The vibraphone is a mallet instrument, but there are so many options for colors, inflections and nuances. This comes not just from your hands playing the notes, but your feet doing the pedaling.” Her advice for young percussionists? “Don’t neglect the vibes in your daily practice.”