def METHOD_NAME(self, name):
    """
    Returns the playback state for the given player instance
    """
    try:
        proxy = self.bus.get_object(name, "/org/mpris/MediaPlayer2")
        device_prop = dbus.Interface(
            proxy, "org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties")
        state = device_prop.Get("org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.Player",
                                "PlaybackStatus")
        return state
    except:
        return None