2-Mallet Keyboard Exercise: Double Diminished Double Stops

March 22, 2017 James Christian

Double Diminished Double Stops, page 1 — **Double Diminished Double Stops**
*Click on the images to enlarge…*

Double Diminished Double Stops, page 2 — *…or click here to download in PDF format.*

This exercise for two-mallet keyboard percussion utilizes double stops with a diminished 7th chord (also known as double diminished). Starting with A, the pattern cycles through all 12 keys, going up by a half step each time.

The goal of this exercise is to build fluidity of movement with double stops around the keyboard. You start by playing three repetitions on each interval, then two, then one. These patterns cycle through 18/8, 12/8, and 6/8 time signatures, respectively.

With all double stops, be careful to strike both notes together. As you get faster, I would recommend striking the upper manual bars on the edge, instead of the center. Strive for accuracy and consistent sound. Stay relaxed, and let the stroke come from the wrists.

As you get more comfortable with this exercise, it can be a good endurance builder. Don’t slow down on the 6/8 measures! Keep a steady pulse throughout the exercise. A metronome will be invaluable for keeping tempo. For added endurance, repeat several times.

Have fun with this one!

2-Mallet Keyboard Exercise: Double Stops Builder

March 12, 2017March 13, 2017 James Christian

The term double stops refers to striking two mallets at the same time. They are an incredibly important skill to develop and master, and this exercise is a useful tool for practicing them.

In addition to having good double stop quality, it’s also important to transition smoothly between the upper and lower manuals. In 16 measures, this exercise covers every possible configuration.

The breakdown is as follows:

Measures 1-4: accents with both hands on lower manual
Measures 5-8: accents with both hands on upper manual
Measures 9-12: accents with left hand on upper manual & right hand on lower manual
Measures 13-16: accents with left hand on lower manual & right hand on upper manual

Within each of these four-measure sets, the non-accented notes (the “inner beats”) follow this configuration:

Measure 1: both hands on lower manual
Measure 2: left hand on upper manual, right hand on lower manual
Measure 3: left hand on lower manual, right hand on upper manual
Measure 4: both hands on upper manual

When playing this exercise, focus on distinct accents and clear (but softer) “inner beats.” Make sure the double stops strike at exactly the same time. Each interval should have a clear, blended sound.

Have fun with this exercise!

I also have to point out that this is the 50th post on Rudimental University! Woo hoo!!!

2-Mallet Keyboard Exercise: Singles Speed Builder

February 2, 2017February 1, 2017 James Christian

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

This short exercise is a good chop builder for keyboard percussion. It focuses on short spurts (which builds speed), and its length allows for numerous repetitions (which builds endurance). I came up with this exercise several years ago when I was trying to help a student build their two-mallet speed. I didn’t expect it to be so popular, but my students have enjoyed playing it ever since. It’s fairly catchy, and the simplicity of its structure makes it easy to learn. I have seen firsthand that the students who practice it regularly achieve good results.

When first learning this exercise, take it slowly until you can strike each note with 100% accuracy. It is short enough to memorize fairly easily. Remember that the key to speed is staying relaxed! Of course, you have to push your muscles in order to build endurance, but you must push them with good technique. Don’t let the speed create a sense of uncontrolled frenzy. Don’t lock your arms or wrists. Stay relaxed, yet keep your sound intensely focused. Strive for consistent strokes, so that you achieve clean execution and articulation.

Enjoy playing! I hope you notice significant improvement in your singles quality and speed.

2-Mallet Keyboard Exercise: 12 Bucks (two versions!)

January 19, 2017January 22, 2017 James Christian

Doubles Version

*…or click here to download in PDF format.*

Singles Version

Today you get a double dose of exercises! Both versions cycle through the circle of fifths and utilize a thirds pattern, but the first version uses double strokes, and the second version uses single strokes. Both are valuable to learn, and both work important skills.

As mentioned a few days ago, all the exercises this week can be played individually or together as a full drum line. The snare part is similar to the common “Bucks” exercise, and the keyboard part cycles through 12 keys. Thus the exercise is called “12 Bucks.”

If you don’t know your scales and/or the circle of fifths very well, the main challenge on this exercise will be to switch between keys so quickly. I would recommend starting with the doubles version. You can initially learn it without the double strokes, and the technical demands will be slightly easier. It really is a great exercise for helping you know the circle of fifths intimately.

Once you get the notes down, you can add in the doubles. Then you can learn the slightly more challenging singles version. When playing doubles, make sure both notes are of equal volume. (Don’t “drop” the second note of the doubles.) When playing singles, make sure you don’t add accents when they aren’t written. With everything you play, work toward smooth, evenly spaced notes.

For more seasoned players, you may want to take the same exercises and play them with natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, and/or other scale combinations.

Enjoy!

4-Mallet Keyboard Exercise: Double Lateral Chromatic Pattern

January 13, 2017January 14, 2017 James Christian

I live near the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex in Texas. One of the most popular drum line contests in this area is the Plano Drum Line Competition, which is held every year in September. In addition to offering the opportunity for dozens of drum lines to compete, Plano’s contest also features an individual & ensemble competition. For each instrument, there is a “compulsory” that is to be performed before the contestant’s solo. For snares and tenors, they must open and close a flam drag. For timpani, they must perform “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” on a maximum of three drums. For four-mallet keyboard percussion, they are required to play the above double lateral exercise.

When I first saw this exercise, I really liked it. I wondered how the contest hosts had decided to use it. Well, this past year, I decided to start working through every exercise in Leigh Howard Stevens’ classic Method of Movement for Marimba. (Of course, I had played from various sections before, but never in such a focused and goal-oriented way. This time I was determined to play through the entire book.) Lo and behold, this exercise is in the book’s section on double laterals.

I offer this bit of personal background info just to let you know why this exercise has stuck with me. I’m glad it has. It really is a great exercise for working double laterals across the keyboard. I recommend starting it slowly until you feel confident in each position. It is probably easiest to memorize the pattern. Focus on striking the bars on the proper beating spots. Also take care that each note resonates at an equal volume. Don’t drop the second note of each lateral!

This exercise is obviously written for marimba, but it can also be played on xylophone and vibraphone. For xylophone, simply play the exercise an octave higher. For vibraphone, transpose the exercise up a minor seventh. That is, take it up an octave, and then take it down a whole step, so that your first four notes are F, B-flat, B-flat, F.

Holiday Percussion: World Percussion Christmas (Andrea Centazzo)

December 25, 2016December 29, 2016 James Christian

And now for something completely different…

Here is a playlist Andrea Centazzo’s World Percussion Christmas. All 10 tracks are arranged in different styles with different world percussion instruments. (I particularly like the rainy “O Holy Night” and the taiko-style arrangement of “The Little Drummer Boy.”) Enjoy!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Rudimental University!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-lleu9Z7yitJ-ojd6jnMzL8eAZ5N-jsv

Holiday Percussion: Christmas Bells, Mallets, & Drums (University of Oklahoma)

December 23, 2016December 29, 2016 James Christian2 Comments

I got a CD of the University of Oklahoma Percussion Ensemble several years ago, and it is one of my favorite Christmas albums of all time. I believe it has a lot of mass appeal; it should be of interest to an audience of more than just percussionists. The all-percussion arrangements of different Christmas carols are excellent. Each arrangement is unique and original while always retaining a certain level of sophistication. The album strikes the perfect balance between interestingly energetic and calming background music.

I cannot find a site that currently sells the CD (please leave a note in the comments section if you know of one). However, OU Percussion Press has sound files of every track available on their website: http://oupercussionpress.squarespace.com/catalog/ Just scroll down about two-thirds of the way until you see a section entitled “The Christmas Series.” All of the tracks are listed in order. Even better, you can purchase the full score and parts on their site to perform with your group. (I have performed two of them with a high school group in the past, and they were a lot of fun!)

Here is the track list:

I Saw Three Ships
Away in the Manger
Christmas Medley (Joy to the World/ God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen/ O Little Town of Bethlehem/ What Child Is This?)
O Green and Shimmering Tree
Fum, Fum, Fum!
Marimba Carol Medley
The Christmas Song
The Twelve Days of Christmas
O Holy Night
Carol of the Bells
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Silent Night
Deck the Halls

Holiday Percussion: “The Nutcracker” & “Frosty the Snowman” (University of North Texas)

December 21, 2016December 29, 2016 James Christian

All this week, we are featuring percussion arrangements of Christmas and holiday music. These two performances by the drum line and percussion ensembles at the University of North Texas are from a December 2016 concert. Enjoy music from “The Nutcracker” and “Frosty the Snowman.”

Holiday Percussion: “Pat a Pan” (Belmont Percussion Ensemble)

December 20, 2016December 29, 2016 James Christian

Many of you have time off from your normal schedule during this holiday season, and it’s a great time for practicing. If you need some material, there are quite a few exercises already posted on Rudimental University. This week, however, we’re going to take a break from the usual exercises and articles and just enjoy some percussion performances found on the Web. Today’s featured performance is the Belmont Percussion Ensemble’s unique twist on an arrangement of a Christmas classic entitled Patapan.

The original published version, which is a bit different from this recording, can be found on Row-Loff Percussion’s website: http://www.rowloff.com/search/description.html?item=08CS6

2-Mallet Keyboard Exercise: Interval Focus in Triplets

December 13, 2016December 13, 2016 James Christian

This exercise is great for practicing short and wide interval leaps. It is comprised of three parts:

Measures 1-24: The triplet pattern starts on a B-flat (check the key signature!), descends a half step, returns to B-flat, descends two half steps, returns to B-flat, descends three half steps, etc. I would recommend starting this section on the right hand.
Measures 25-48: This section follows the same pattern as the previous section, except the intervals move ascending instead of descending. I would recommend starting this section on the left hand.
Measures 49-74: Finally, this section also starts on a B-flat, but the intervals both ascend and descend at the same time, ultimately spanning two octaves. I would recommend starting this section on the right hand.

Due to the wide interval, the final two measures are the most difficult to play quickly. I recommend seeing how fast you can play these two measures first. That is your tempo for the entire exercise. While this exercise is good practice for various intervals, another challenge is to maintain a steady tempo. Most people will want to start too quickly and be unable to maintain that tempo throughout the entire exercise. Don’t let that be you!