Reply to thread

I am a mallet percussionist too, so here are my tips:


1.  Try softer mallets.  If you have a heavy touch, you may need to use mallets that are softer to compensate.  I like my yarn xylophone mallets, but sometimes need to go with the soft rubber ones to get the right sound.


2. Know that you don't really need a downward swing to play piano or mezzo-piano.  You probably won't move more than your wrist to strike at that dynamic level.  I would guess that you probably prefer to play something you can hear, so you are probably tending to be way too loud.  You just need to find a physical hook to know what piano-mezzo-forte-fortissimo FEEL like.


3.  Okay, so this next suggestion is probably really bad, but you could have another pit player, assuming you are not there alone, to show you the difference. Or your band teacher.  If you can't hear the difference in volume, have them thump you on the back or leg or some other not-too-sensitive place so you can feel the difference. I would only do this briefly, you don't want mallet-shaped bruises.  It could be another way for you to physically appreciate the difference in force.


Back
Top