©2018 Yamaha Corporation of America. All rights reserved. Yamaha Mallet Resource Guide – i
Total Percussion
From beginner percussion and snare packages to concert and marching instruments, Yamaha has
everything students and schools need to reach their full potential. http://4wrd.it/TotalPerc
SK-285
SBK-350
YX-230
SCK-350
Edited and compiled by Dr. Dave Gerhart; Yamaha Corporation of America Product Manager, Percussion
We created this guide to help establish a solid foundation on which to build technical and
musical skills. This book is a supplemental guide to any classroom method book and
includes exercises, scales and études. All of us at Yamaha wish you great success.
Contents
Music Fundamentals .......................................................................... 2
Hand Warm-ups ................................................................................. 4
Major Scales ...................................................................................... 6
Scale Patterns .................................................................................... 8
Études .............................................................................................. 10
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Music Fundamentals
Treble Clef
It is important to memorize the lines and spaces of the staff. Below is the treble clef with the letter names.
Major Scale
A major scale is constructed by arranging whole steps and half steps in the following pattern.
Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Half
Note Values
Name
Whole
Half
Quarter
Eighth
Sixteenth
Beats
4
2
1
1/2
1/4
Note Rest
Dynamics - Six Volume Levels
pp pianissimo very soft
p piano soft
mp mezzo-piano fairly soft (medium soft)
mf mezzo-forte fairly loud (medium loud)
f forte loud
ff fortissimo very loud
F
A
C
E
G
E
B
D
F
WW W
W
HWH
F
A
C
E
G
E
B
D
F
WW W
W
HW
H
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Circle of Fifths
The circle of fifths is a tool for musicians to help determine the key signature for any scale. For example,
the key signature for E major has four sharps.
Glossary of Percussion Strokes
There may be as many names and descriptions of good stroke technique as there are good drummers. The list
below is offered as an informative guide. It is important to practice each separately so you may then put them
together successfully.
Natural Stroke or Legato Stroke: A stroke that starts at any height, plays, then returns to its original height.
It flows in constant motion rather than stopping and starting. Also called Rebound Stroke or Full Stroke.
Tap: A stroke that starts low, plays, then returns to its low starting place. It is a soft natural/legato stroke.
Down Stroke: A stroke that starts high, plays, then is stopped close to the drum. Also called Controlled
Stroke or Marcato Stroke.
Up Stroke: A stroke that starts low, plays, then lifts the stick/mallet head above the player’s hands.
Multiple Bounce: Strokes that are used to play a smooth “closed” roll. Also called Buzz or Z Strokes. The
roll that is produced by using this stroke is called Multiple-Bounce, Buzz, Z, Orchestral, Concert or Closed.
C
G
D
A
E
B
G
D
A
E
B
F
A
m
E
m
B
m
F
m
C
m
G
m
E
m
B
m
F
m
C
m
G
m
D
m
Yamaha Mallet Resource Guide – 4 ©2018 Yamaha Corporation of America. All rights reserved.
Hand Warm-ups
Warm-ups are an essential part of any physical activity. Below are several warm-up exercises that can be played
on a practice pad or any mallet instrument. It is important to spend 5-10 minutes warming-up before playing
your musical instrument.
A
8th Notes - Hands Together
B
Singles
C
Sticking Exercises
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D
Double Beat Exercise
E
Single Stroke Roll
F
Double Stroke Roll
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Major Scales
In western music, the major scale is one of the most common scales. A major scale is constructed by
arranging whole steps and half steps in the following pattern: Whole Whole Half Whole Whole Whole Half.
Below is the list of the 15 major scales. Play through each scale and memorize them all.
C Major
A Major
E Major
B Major
F# Major
G Major
D Major
C Major
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B
C
A
D
E
G
Major
B
C
A
D
E
G
Major
B
C
A
D
E
G
Major
C# Major
B
C
A
D
E
G
Major
F Major
B
C
A
D
E
G
Major
B
C
A
D
E
G
Major
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Scale Patterns
Once you have become familiar with the major scales, practice the following scale patterns/exercises utilizing
all of the major scales. The exercises are written in C major but make sure you play through them in all the
major keys.
A
B
C
D
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F
E
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Études
Ode to Joy
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Piece
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Minuet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Andante
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Gavotte
François-Joseph Gossec
Russian Dance (From the Nutcracker Suite)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Études
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Spring (from The Four Seasons)
Antonio Vivaldi
Ein Männlein steht im Walde (German Folk Song)
August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben
