Tag: independence

“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”

Drum Set Exercise: Triplet Limb Independence #2

James Christian
Click on the image to enlarge or click here to download in PDF format.

It’s coordination time again!  In our last drum set exercise, we focused on different limb combinations with triplets.  This week, we take the same concept further and increase the coordinative complexity a bit.  (Note:  This assumes a traditional kit setup, in which the ride cymbal and bass drum are played with the right hand and right foot respectively, and the snare drum and hi-hat are played with the left hand and left foot respectively.  Adjust this exercise to work the same concepts according to your setup.)

Measures 1-2: triplets in left hand and left foot (3 notes each), quarter notes in right hand and right foot (lead with hand)

Measures 3-4: triplets in right hand and right foot (3 notes each), quarter notes in left hand and left foot (lead with hand)

Measures 5-6: triplets in left hand and left foot (3 notes each), quarter notes in right foot and right hand (lead with foot)

Measures 7-8: triplets in right hand and right foot (3 notes each), quarter notes in left foot and left hand (lead with foot)

Measures 9-12: repeats the previous patterns of measures 1-4 with triplets alternating single strokes between limbs

Measures 13-16: repeats measures 9-12, except the order of hand and foot is reversed on the single stroke triplets

Measures 17-18: a “tag” ending to wrap it up

Measures 19-36: the entire exercise repeats with the opposite side leading (right hand becomes left hand and vice versa, right foot becomes left foot and vice versa)

Between this exercise and the previous exercise, just about every combination is covered.  If you can play both exercises smoothly and consistently, your coordination will increase significantly.

Drum Set Exercise: Triplet Limb Independence

James Christian
Click on the image to enlarge or click here to download in PDF format.

This triplet-based exercise is a great test of your independence between limbs.  Triplets are constantly trading off between two limbs while the other two limbs are keeping steady quarter notes.

Measures 1-2: triplets in hands (3 notes each), quarter notes in feet

Measures 3-4: triplets in feet (3 notes each), quarter notes in hands

Measure 5-6: triplets in right hand and left foot (3 notes each), quarter notes in right foot and left hand

Measures 7-8:  triplets in right foot and left hand (3 notes each), quarter notes in right hand and left foot

Measures 9-16: repeats the previous patterns with triplets alternating single strokes between limbs

Measures 17-18:  a “tag” ending to wrap it up

Measures 19-36: the entire exercise repeats with the left side leading instead of the right

A lot of combinations are covered here.  Have fun with this one.  Check back in two weeks for Triplet Limb Independence #2!

Drum Set Exercise: Bass Drum 16th Patterns

James Christian1 Comment

drum-set-0001-bd-16thsClick on the image to enlarge or click here to download in PDF format.

This exercise takes a basic rock groove and goes through all 15 possible 16th note-based patterns on the bass drum.  For beginning players, you should play each measure several times in a row until you have it down solidly.  This will help you build a strong sense of 16th note timing on the bass drum.  For more experienced players, this exercise will serve as good practice for changing bass patterns quickly.

The final line serves to give a satisfying conclusion to the exercise.  The final three beats are written with slash notation.  You can either give yourself a rest or create your own fills as you repeat the exercise.

To make this exercise groove, it’s essential to keep steady time.  The final few measures are certainly the most difficult, so it’s important that you do not start the exercise too fast—or your foot will struggle to keep up at the end.  Pay careful attention to keeping every note in alignment.  Ultimately, each measure should groove, and you should have fun with it!