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How To Play Xylophone And Marimba - position

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the left hand for the low notes and the right hand for the high
notes. Use your hands and wrists when striking the notes. The
arms should hardly move at all. Watch carefully to see that you
do not lift the mallets too high above the keyboard. This is
unnecessary and will slow you up when you begin to get good
and play fast pieces.

After playing the scales and possibly some simple melodies,
start in to practice the roll. This consists of a series of alternat-
ing single strokes on one tone bar, using both mallets. First
strike the bar with the right-hand mallet, then with the left,
and then continue right, left, right, left, and so on. You use
the roll whenever a single note is to be maintained or kept
sounding for a moment or two or longer. This is usually when
you play half notes or whole notes.

The roll is a very important part of xylophone or marimba
playing, and should be practiced for ten or fifteen minutes
every day. The great thing is to work to get a smooth, even
roll, and the best way to do this is to practice slowly at first.
Increase your speed as you are able to, but if the roll becomes
uneven or ragged, stop at once and start over again. Never use

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