How to Learn to Sight Read Mallet Music

The mallet is the tool used in a majority of percussion instruments. Even more, mallet-based instruments are the foundation for any band, providing the tempo and rhythm. Whether you are trying to learn the mallet for a band, or just for enjoyment, it is a learning experience that can open exciting doors in your musical world. With mallet music ranging from easy to challenging, it can be sight read with practice. Before beginning, however, be sure to learn the basics of music by reading introductory music books. Key concepts to playing music are scales and timing. Once you understand the basics, you can start learning to sight read mallet music.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sheet music
• Mallets
• Xylophone

1. Learn about the mallet instrument itself. Mallets produce sound on the percussion instrument by striking it. The key components of percussion instruments are the size of the bars (small “target” compared to the size of the mallet head), screws in the bars (further shrinking the “target”) and kinesthetics (players do not touch the keys as every other instrumentalist does).

2. Learn a good warm-up routine. Typically, warm-up exercises consist of scales, starting out slowly and then increasing in speed. Scales are played up and down the entire keyboard, starting on the lowest pitch and playing up to the highest pitch.

3. Begin sight reading. The standard mallet books cover the topics of pacing and rolls. Pacing deals with the issue of timing, and rolls are the various essential scales. When learning how to sight read, practice keeping your eyes on the music, and not the mallets. The next crucial step to sight reading success is learning to rely on your memory so that you can do so.

4. Sight read in two processes. One method is to sight read through the whole music, from start to finish. Even if you make numerous mistakes, keep on playing through. This will help you hone your timing and pacing skills, as well as gain a better understanding of the music you are trying to learn. The second method is to break songs down into sections, whether by movements (the sections that divide the entire piece of music based on time scales and key/pitch changes) or just a few bars at a time. Breaking the whole song down allows you to focus on little pieces at a time, which can be less overwhelming. Additionally, break the song into sections based on scales, time frames and sections with which you are more or less comfortable. This way, you can learn what your strengths and weaknesses are.Alternating the two methods is the best recipe for success in learning music.

5. Keep practicing, and never give up. Learning the mallets will open a door to many greater things in the music world.

Tips & Warnings

• Perfecting your sight reading skills will take much time and concentration, so do not get frustrated if you feel you are not understanding mallets or sight reading right away.
• Stretch your hands and arms to avoid cramping.
• Avoid developing bad habits, such as looking at the mallets instead of at your sheet music. The sooner you teach yourself not to depend on looking at the mallets, the faster you will learn the mallet music.
• Always practice, and build up your music, increasing in difficulty.
• Wear ear protection to prevent hearing damage.

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