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It's so funny how Tony and I work on the same things 3000 miles apart without talking about it. I was inspired by our LONG, somewhat heated discussion about swinging using double-or alternate sticking. I ALSO love to practice solo playing, concentrating on the time and SWINGING! I ALSO do many takes, waiting for something decent that I can identify with to some extent. These are bebop-like changes from a piece written by a Norwegian guitar I play with occasionally. He LOVES bebop and playing fast tempos. But I listened to Tony and tried to play a "grown up" tempo.

You all might want to check out and down load the new Christmas album by my "Generations Quartet, "A Christmas Gathering", a new take on Christmas.

Go to www.malletmuserecords.com and listen to some examples. If you like it you can download the album or invidual songs.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Sunday night practice session with ascending Minor triads starting with Bb minor. Thinking about using various stickings including alternate and combination strokes as well as using all four mallets for the lines.

＊Ballads - Move it Along!
Translation for Chinese students
中文翻譯:

關於Ballads（慢速的樂曲）

想要將Ballads演奏好，
我們可以專注在幾個重點上面：
1. 速度感的保持、
2. 在保持速度感的基礎下，加入一些有趣的節奏變化
在演奏節奏的時候，樂曲的速度就被建立出來(示範)，
當然可以規規矩矩的把和弦進行打在拍子上，
但能夠演奏出一些有趣的節奏，讓聽眾覺得被吸引，
是很棒的一件事情。(Tony在1:43示範中，有用到類似pedal point的效果，和弦進行在一個持續音上)

可以先找一個和弦，專注在速度和節奏上（示範：Ed major）;
再找兩個和弦試試（示範：Ed major, Ad major ）

記得：保持速度感
快來試試吧！

I've been playing through Freddie Hubbards solo from his tune Birdlike. Oh man is there a ton of stuff in this solo!

Here's an excerpt. The second chorus. Check out the E natural in the first bar over the F7. He does this all over the place. He does it also on the 4 chord later on. It's so cool because you can see ways you can play the major 7th over the dominant chord.

Next this chorus is a GREAT etude. try to play it using alternate sticking and get it up to speed. It will take some work! After that play it in different keys!