Mallet Percussion:

Technique
Overall, your musical ceiling can only be as high as your technical
ceiling. Developing “chops” and a strong foundation of correct motions will make
learning music easier and increase your ability to perform music at a much higher
level.
• 2-mallet Fundamentals
• Technique
o Mechanics
o Touch (legato vs. staccato)
• Scales
• Intervals: Thirds, Fourths, etc.
• Arpeggios
• Double Stops
• Double Strokes
• Rolls:
o Single-Stroke Rolls
o Have them play straight sixteenth notes, then just relax
their hands/fingers and speed their hands up a little.

• 4-mallet Fundamentals (with Burton or Stevens grip)

• Double Vertical
• Single Independent
• Single Alternating
• Double Lateral

Sound Quality
Sound quality is one of the most important aspects about playing any instrument.
• What type of sound are you looking for?
o Full
o Rich
o Resonant
• Can you hear differences between thin and full sounds?
o Once you can hear this difference, decide what you did differently to
produce a full sound – was it technique or playing area?
o Posture is everything. Upright, Square to the instrument…no leaning
o After the stroke - Hands are below the mallets - full sound and
projection
• How will mallet selection affect the sound?
o Mallets should have enough weight to create the warm sounds
desired.
o The mallets should do most of the work for you.
• Where should you strike the bar?
o Differences between playing areas:
• Center
• Just off Center
• Edge of Accidentals
• Node
• Should you play on the edge or off center of the accidentals?
o Playing on the edge is a different sound quality
o Decisions made by preference of sound and tempos
o I usually prefer to play just off center.

Individual Techniques:
• Vibraphone
o Downstrokes?
o Pedal timing
o Mallet dampening
• Glockenspiel
o Finger, Hand, Arm dampening
o Vibrato
• Crotales
o Mallet choice
• Xylophone
o Sustains require very solid technique - fast single strokes
• Chimes
o Horizontal stroke on edge of cap
o Hand Dampening

Watch Out! …Common Pitfalls…

1. Inefficient mallet tracking
• Choose a tracking position and stick with it.
 • Rolls - mallet closest to next note moves first.
2. Tension in difficult or faster passages
3. Body positioning - can be your best friend or your worst enemy! - Move
body to stay behind the notes you’re playing.
4. Too much arm in the stroke. Always initiate with the wrist. …very
common in wide intervals with 4-mallets.
5. Learning music too quickly (bad for memory, trains incorrect muscle
memory, less opportunity for analyzing efficient movements/strokes)

Suggested Methods:
• A Fresh Approach to Mallet Percussion - Mark Wessels

• Two – Gene Koshinski

• A Fresh Approach to Technique & Musicianship with Four Mallets -

David Skidmore

• Method of Movement - L.H. Stevens