MikeK added a link to this lesson. But it is really great so I thought I'd add it as an embedded video!
TJ
Playing beautiful 3 and 4 mallet chordal rolls is a goal all vibes and marimba players should work toward. Yes, vibes players mostly use the pedal to sustain notes, but sometimes using a roll is better. Here is a simple, easy to learn method you can use to play really nice rolls for 3 and 4 part chords. The trick is to have each mallet strike the bar at a different time, creating smooth legato sound.
Wow!! I've never seen anything like this.
I want to acknowledge the life of a teacher and friend who passed away suddenly at the age of 61 last week Saturday May 8, 2010.
I started takeing drum lessons from Terry when I was 7 yrs. old. I continued with him until I was 15 yrs old and had a friendship with him through out my life. Terry was an excellent teacher, always encouraging, supportive and gave me a good reality check a couple of times when I needed it. He was never demeaning, just a regular guy, and a very nice and caring one at that.
This piece, a sarabande from Sonata IV in D minor, is a slow thoughtful piece and a good 4 mallet exercise. Use the 4 mallets for melody lines as well the block chords. For instance, in bar 6 you’ll find it handy to use 4 to play the wide intervals in the line. The same approach should be used in bar 23 where the melody line jumps around a lot.
Here's the lead sheet. Check out the groups of five an six. Just try going through the piece playing only the rhythms. I think Terry Bozzio played this as a drum solo.
Hi all,
I'd like to introduce for those who don't know him Emmanuel Séjourné, a great mallet master here in France.
He's a great pedagogue, composer, player, with appart from mastery, humor and fantasy.
He's playing here a marimba piece with six mallets, a few partners... and fun!
His website: http://www.emmanuelsejourne.com/
Enjoy!
- M
This is for Barry! Here's a slow mo' of 4 in 1 with a really nice stick drop at the end. (Inside joke for long time, vibesworkshop members).
Maybe this will be of some help with the etude.
I left the sticks after the throw up there for all to examine. You see I can tell the future by how the sticks fall onto the vibes. And I see a lot of good vibe playing in the future for everyone based on that throw.
Practicing tunes in other keys is a great exercise. Recently Tony and I had a short discussion on the benefits of transposing. It reminded me of "Comrade Conrad", a beautiful Bill Evans tune that actually moves up a 5th to a new key every chorus! The transition to a new key is so smooth the listener may not even be aware that the tune is moving through all 12 keys.
I got this from Christos FB account... and I loved it!
To me a very good example of mallets in "popular" but good music... In Greek! Cool huh? And with marimba: even more original, no?
Enjoy!
- MN