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Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by Not a Drummer on 1/29/2021, 8:23 am

Suggestions for a starter 4-mallet marimba book? I have a student who needs to learn but is hesitant. Thanks in advance!

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by ForeverN00B on 2/2/2021, 4:49 pm, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

The Bar Percussion Solo Notebook by Pimentel has several class 3 four-mallet solos that I find really helpful in getting my kids to learn 4-mallet technique. The very first one in the book, "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor," for example, is a 5th in both hands with the only lateral motion within the 5th. Halfway through the melody switches from the right to the left hand, so both hands get practice being the focus hand.

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by other books on 2/1/2021, 9:00 am, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Here are some that are not mentioned:

-For Four - Josh Gottry

-Simply Four - Gifford Howarth

-Nancy Zeltsman book

-Image - Bart Quartier

-Funny Mallets - Nebojsa Zivkovic (very simple 4 mallet solos)

-Shazam & Ziggadigabuzz - Various (have a few easy 4 mallet solos)

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by other books on 2/1/2021, 1:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Spinning Yarns - Matthew Weyer

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by Dude on 1/30/2021, 6:49 pm, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Just play solos. They'll all have to do selections from Ford or Davilla in region. Suite Mexicana (used to be a class 1, not anymore) is a great first four-mallet solo. Yellow After the Rain, Raindance are nice 2nd and 3rd ones. By then the kid is able to play 4 mallets and can decide how much of a challenge they want going forward.

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by My go to on 1/30/2021, 12:34 am, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

If I'm working with an individual student, I use "Fundamental Method for Mallets" by Mitchell Peters.

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by Perc dir on 1/29/2021, 8:21 pm, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Mark Ford’s Technique Through Music is a great book for beginners developing their four mallet technique. Each solo focuses on a specific four mallet stroke and eventually combines them later in the book. Highly recommend! Also, Yellow after the Rain is a fun solo for beginners to learn and master their technique.

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by QJBomb on 1/29/2021, 7:50 pm, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Spinning Yarns

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by ER on 1/29/2021, 4:47 pm, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

My favorite book for starting students on four mallets is "Sequential Studies for Four Mallet Marimba" by Dr. Julia Gaines.

Dr. Gaines also record 39 videos for Vic Firth that serve as a companion to the book.

All can be found here: Tapspace Sequential Studies

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by Perc Guy on 1/29/2021, 3:19 pm, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Impressions on Wood by Julie Davila

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by marimba on 1/29/2021, 1:21 pm, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Not to start marimba-gate again, but Mark Ford's Marimba: Technique Through Music is a fantastic book for teaching. Unlike his new book, this one can all be played on a 4.3 except for the last solo.

Re: Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???

Posted by perc one on 1/29/2021, 9:11 am, in reply to "Easy 4-Mallet Marimba Book???"

Marimba Technique Through Music, Mark Ford

Keyboard Fundamentals, Dr. Brian Zator

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