“Auld Lang Syne” for Marimba Vibraphone, or Xylophone

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”

Learn the Parabuzzle Exercise!

Here is a new snare drum exercise that utilizes the buzz, buzzle, parabuzzle, and several variations.

Click “Read More” to watch the video and download the sheet music.

Here is a new snare drum exercise that utilizes the buzz, buzzle, parabuzzle, and several variations. Watch the video to learn the exercise.

You can download the sheet music below. A full transcript of the video follows.

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

TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

Hello, everyone. This is James Christian with Read more “Learn the Parabuzzle Exercise!”

Cobalt – Drum Line Cadence

CADENCE WEEK, DAY #5

Here is the fifth and final cadence as promised!

Click “Read More” to listen and download!

CADENCE WEEK, DAY #5

Today is the fifth and final day of Cadence Week! Enjoy!

Cobalt cadence 1st page


Difficulty: 4.0 – This cadence has a laid-back funk groove spiced up with a lot of rolls and other rudiments. It will require some decent chops, but if you’ve got ’em, audiences will enjoy watching you strut!

Click here to download the score and individual parts.

Read more “Cobalt – Drum Line Cadence”

Starfish – Drum Line Cadence

CADENCE WEEK, DAY #4

The fourth day of Cadence Week!

Click “Read More” to listen and download!

 

CADENCE WEEK, DAY #4

Today is the fourth day of Cadence Week! Enjoy!

Starfish cadence 1st page

 

Difficulty: 1.5 – This is a fairly simple and catchy cadence that utilizes 16th note rhythms, single strokes, double strokes, and paradiddles. It can serve a younger ensemble by incorporating basic rudiments into their playing, or it can serve as an easy drum line cadence for a more experienced group.

Click here to download the score and individual parts.

Nebula – Drum Line Cadence

CADENCE WEEK, DAY #3

The third day of Cadence Week!

Click “Read More” to listen and download!

CADENCE WEEK, DAY #3

Today is the third day of Cadence Week! Enjoy!

Nebula cadence 1st page


Difficulty: 3.5 – “Nebula” is a driving, upbeat cadence with a lot of energy. The fast tempo provides a challenge, but it should be quite attainable for an intermediate level group. Instrumentation: snare drums, multi-tenor drums (quint-toms), bass drums (4 or 5), cymbals.

Click here to download the score and individual parts.