Tag: double vertical

“Auld Lang Syne” for Marimba Vibraphone, or Xylophone

James Christian

Enjoy the holidays with a short four-mallet keyboard percussion solo. It can be performed on marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone.

To celebrate the New Year, we often hear people sing the traditional Scottish folk tune “Auld Lang Syne.” What better way to commemorate the occasion than with a new four-mallet arrangement for marimba? (It can also be played on xylophone or vibraphone by taking it up an octave.) The sheet music can be downloaded at the link below.

The primary techniques utilized are double vertical strokes and single independent strokes. Additionally, a few simple rolls are used throughout. This arrangement is loosely inspired by Charles Grobe’s Melodies of the People: New Variations on Old Tunes No. 7—”Auld Lang Syne” with Brilliant Variations, Op. 412, published in 1854.

Enjoy! Happy New Year!

 

Audio only:

Read more ““Auld Lang Syne” for Marimba Vibraphone, or Xylophone”

4-Mallet Keyboard Exercise: Doublespeak

James Christian

4-mallet-0001-doublespeakClick on the image to enlarge or click here to download in PDF format.

This is a fun exercise for keyboard percussion that focuses on the “doubles rudiments” of four-mallet playing.  I regularly use it with the high school where I teach.  During marching season, our front ensemble uses it to work on double vertical strokes (measures 1-4) and double lateral strokes (measures 5-end).

Additional stroke types are used for transitions—single alternating strokes (ex: measure 5, beat 4) and triple lateral strokes (ex: measure 6, beat 4).  These short occurrences frequently happen in actual musical situations, so it’s good practice for being able to switch quickly between stroke types.

Take care to achieve a full sound on every note.  The double verticals should strike exactly together, and the double laterals should have a clear, consistent sound.  Make a clear difference between the accented and non-accented notes at the end.  Do not get sloppy on the non-accented notes.  Keep the continuous 16th notes precisely in time.

When you can play this entire exercise with great consistency of sound, you will have a pretty solid grasp of the fundamental “doubles” strokes of four-mallet keyboard percussion.  Enjoy!