A greater depth of field would (technically) help, though the effect from a limited dof is of course beautiful
The question to any viewer is "What am I looking at?". In your piucture I could be either the mallet, or the instrument itself. Neither are really interesting though (imho) because music is made by people. So the real emotion of this subject lies with the hand(s) of the player. They are (could be) the visible and acting part of the musician. For that reason I would strive for a picture in which the hands of the player are the prime subject, rather than the mallet or the marimba.