4-Mallet Method for Marimba

James Moyer

General Info

Year: 1992
Edition: 1st Edition
Publisher: Marimba Productions, Inc.
Cost: Book Cost - $13.50   |   Supplemental Books - $0.00

Chapters

Chapter I:
Chapter II:
Chapter III:
Chapter IV:
Chapter V:
Chapter VI:

Reviews

Student Reviews

Organization: The table of contents starts with the introduction and the sections of the book following: Double Vertical Strokes, Double Vertical Rolls, Single Alternating Strokes, Sequential Rolls, Single Independent Strokes, and Combination Strokes. Each section, with the exception of Combination Strokes, contains its own introduction, grip, and mechanics involved in the section, with subsections Exercises, Developmental Etudes, and Repertoire following after. Acknowledgements are listed on the very last page of the book.

Content: In the introduction, the author strongly advises the reader to follow each section consecutively and not to skip around as each stroke is introduced in order of difficulty and complexity. The author also states that the student, for whom this book is for, shall be given published solos following the Double Vertical Rolls section and for this book to be gone through under the eye of a “qualified marimba teacher.” With the mention of Leigh Howard Stevens and the recommendation of his book Method of Movement for Marimba, it is suggested that all grips present in the book are under the umbrella of Musser/Stevens grip.

Uses: With the constant mention of “the student,” I would assume the author intends for this book to be used by instructors for the student’s gain or by the student themselves. As for skill level, I would think a college student would be the intended audience as there is nothing present in terms of fundamentals for marimba playing and some of the etudes and exercises present may not challenge a professional marimbist.

Rating: For a method book, there is not much methodology presented at least in terms of fundamentals such as playing position or mallet choice. In my opinion, it seems like a bite taken out of a Stevens book and republished as a separate entity, with easier material perhaps. It is not useless as younger players could make more use out of it than Stevens’ Method of Movement for Marimba, but it is hard to justify why someone should use this book in place of Stevens’. If additional grips were included or Moyer’s own methodology, I could see more value in this book, but it is hard to see it as something more than an etude book. 2/5. User:Hondogracias

Works for Percussion by this Author

4-Mallet Method for Marimba
4-Mallet Progressive Literature