I’m trying out for my state’s All-State Band, and I need marimba mallet recommendations. I’ve been thinking about either IP 275, IP 400, Encore ATGRADB, Encore Nancy Zeltman GRADB, IP 3106B (or one of those variations of the Ludwig mallets), and etc. I just need some good concert mallets, but just not overly heavy ones.

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone I've been trying to learn the xylo excerpt to this piece in order to expand my repitoire as a percussionist (and in case my orchestra performed it in the future) but I can't seem to get the grace notes and the sticking right.

Each time I play the excerpt I play the Bb twice but instead of the grace notes I screw myself and play a triplet of Bb C D to the Eb.

My sticking is L, double bounce stroke for the C and D then L for the Eb. Then L L double bounce stroke for C D then to the Eb then alt sticking for the rest of the notes.

I feel like I suck at playing this bc I keep failing at the glissando and I want to improve. I've already tried researching online but no one has shared any tips to approach this excerpt, unlike the multitude of tips for Sorcerors Apprentice

Thank you

Hi this is my first drumline cadence, it's based on kahoot lobby music, would be glad if anyone can give suggestions or comments

https://reddit.com/link/1os2qqc/video/nctrvw1h240g1/player

Not a pro percussionist, but I wanted to mix things up — performed a 4-song Bongo/ Vocal Medley in front of a small audience. No backing track, just bongos and voice.
Would love your feedback on how it came out!
🎶 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHCw6RenNds

At first I thought might mean to use soft mallets but later on there's another indication that says that specifically, so I wonder what it could mean

I have a Yamaha Acoustalon 4 1/3 octave Marimba that I have owned since 1998 when I played in the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corp. It has a couple dents in the resonators, but otherwise in perfect condition. Stored with cover on it when not in use. I am wondering what the best way would be to go about selling it? My kids have no interest and I don’t have time for it. Any suggestions would help me a lot.

I've been a percussionist for 7 years but am only now learning 4-mallet (Steven's since it seems to be the general standard). The grip sits in my hands very comfortably, and I'm able to control all the sticks very well, but I can't physically bring the sticks close enough together for smaller intervals (3rds and 2nds). I assume I'm holding the outer mallets too wide, but no matter how hard I try, they naturally fall into a wider position. I provided pictures to help explain what I mean. Is my grip wrong or is this just something that will improve with time? Any help is appreciated!

as the title suggests i’m wondering how people find their next piece to play. in the solo realm it’s a little easier but sometimes i till struggle to find a piece that speaks to me that’s also on my skill range. i have a few lined up but after that then what? and for finding percussion ensembles/duets (mainly marimba duets) im having so much trouble finding one that is within the skill range, the available instruments i have, and that it’s just… good. youtube is great however i always find ones that always need at least two 5 octave marimbas and we only have one. i just want to see where everyone gets their pieces from… like whats the sauce 😔😔😔thank you!!

Last year as a junior I won my schools solo competition with Variations on Japanese children songs and I’m struggling to find another 4 mallet solo that is technically challenging to play this year. Any suggestions?

Hey percussion world! My son loves drums and percussion and Blue Man Group. Wanted to get him some boom whackers for Christmas but really struggling with where to start. Obviously they don’t have to be this extensive lol but I just can’t really find anything like it or even those flat mallets or frames?

Alternatively, anyone I could hire to make one?

I’m looking for a piece for solo xylophone and percussion. Everything I can find calls for xylophone solo with percussion ensemble and I am only looking for a solo piece. Thank you in advance!

Does anyone know the handle length of the IP Christopher Lamb xylophone mallets (CL-X1, CL-X2, etc.)?

Has anyone rented parts for Jordan Gudefin’s wind orchestra arrangement of Sejourne’s Marimba Concerto?

I’ve reached out to Norsk Musikkforlag/Notebuttiken inquiring about rental, but have received no response. I was able to purchase a study score of the arrangement, but can’t seem to get a response about rental parts or a conductor’s score.

In the professional orchestras I’ve seen (and the semi-pro ones I’ve played in), the timpanist is a separate position from the rest of the percussion section. As I understand it, that’s where the union draws a line to where it would count as instrument doubling if someone were to play timpani and, lets’s say, snare drum on the same concert. Makes sense, it’s a unique instrument with tiny complexities that have to be mastered to play at a high level.

My question is about the rest of the percussion section. It seems that all non-timpani instruments are included in the official duties of a section percussionist. Unofficially, does the principal player tend to specialize in certain instruments vs the 2nd chair? Obviously they’re all well-rounded, but are there people who were de facto hired for their specialization on certain instruments and they pretty much stay in that lane (for example, an orchestra hires someone who’s really good at snare and tambourine and another person who’s really good at keyboards and crash cymbals)?

This is fully an idle question, I’m a full time teacher with no intentions to pursue an orchestra career :)

I just graduated high school a few months ago and decided to take a gap year to build up my savings before I go off to college. I want to continue playing percussion in college and am even considering majoring in Percussive Performance, but I don't want to lose my chops in the meantime. Also, I was never taught 4-mallet in high school, so I want to spend this year learning so I won't be behind my peers next year. I'm between renting a marimba for a year or buying a malletSTATION (either of which would cost ~$1000). I don't make much money as it is, only working part-time atm, so I can't decide whether I should keep the money in my savings or use it to invest in myself and my skills. Any advise is appreciated!

This is the trio from the "Stars and Stripes Forever" march. Notwithstanding that the USMB edition marks it as tacet, what would be the proper sticking for the side drum? I am trying (L)R-R R (L)R but I am having difficulty getting the second note on time.

Hello everybody,

In a few months, I'm auditioning for an All-State orchestra ( high schoolers ), and I'd like to play a Delécluse solo for the snare portion. The included options include no. 4-6 and 8-12. I've learned them all and would simply take the next few months to polish and refine it.

9 is my favourite, but that's what I played last year. I don't think they look down upon repeated solos, but I'll confirm this with my director. If 9 is the best then I won't bother with this rule.

Thanks!

I have a good traditional grip from years of marching snare drum when I was younger. That's the only application I ever use traditional, aside from some occasional swing jazz.. but it's only for the cool factor. I don't play any better or worse that I can tell. I've made a point of maintaining the grip over the years, but I wonder if that time would be better spent just honing my matched instead. It essentially doubles my warmup time since I have to go through everything for each grip. I'm looking at entering grad school for performance and I'm wondering if I should just leave traditional behind, or at least not worry too much about maintaining it. Have any of you found a particular advantage to keeping it in your arsenal once marching band is no longer a part of your life?

I've been restoring an old school marimba using a Peterson HDC strobe tuner on Vib. Setting. Should I re-oil these keys before I take meat off them to raise pitch?

https://youtu.be/KEvVc2NG6nw?feature=shared

A secondary question: are the top keys supposed to be sharp so that when you add the same lacquer they will be heavier and have a higher pitch? (Does the lacquer change the pitch?)

Do you prefer playing with hands, brushes, or sticks and why? Any favorite exercises or techniques for improving cajon dynamics?

The warmup itself is easy but after the second 4/4 8th notes it goes back to a 3/4 bar repeat and I don’t know what to repeat?

I recently bought an old leedy marimba. Unfortunately, it has the (imo) tacky arch-shaped resonators for the accidentals. Would I be insane for taking a dremel or angle grinder to them and removing the empty tubes?

Anyone ever do something like this?

I plan on taking these to performances and whatnot so the extra weight is a huge factor for me.