Page 19 - 2018-BMR-December

Teaching Mallet Instruments:

Let’s Start Differently!

Dr. Yi-Jan (Rachel) Liu

Throughout my years of teaching Then they move on to the space- DESIGNING THE CURRICULUM
percussion students how to play line system. The space-line system of FOR TEACHING MALLET
mallet instruments in North Texas, I learning notes does not support the INSTRUMENTS

have consistently come across a few concept of stepwise motion, causing Teaching students note-reading
common problems. While students some trouble for students learning skills and providing ample training in
easily identify notes on the page and new music. technical exercises are equally important
the instrument, and can perform I have observed students who were in a successful curriculum for teaching
technical exercises well, their sight- taught using the space-line system and mallet instruments. Technical exercises
reading skills are weak and they are found that many have a tendency to develop the kinetic movements on
slow to learn solos, region etudes, focus on the “individual” note. These mallet instruments that are necessary
and ensemble music, often needing to students do not see the relationship to accurately execute a musical passage.
memorize them in order to play. Such from one note to another, which The following content explores a few
issues can be alleviated by utilizing presents two problems. First, while methods that are helpful in enhancing
a different approach when teaching students can identify notes with little students’ reading skills and lists
mallet instruments to beginner difficulty, they may play the notes in examples of technique exercises that are
percussionists. the wrong octave. Second, it takes complimentary to one’s sight-reading
If you examine mallet music more time to figure out following ability and learning process.
for middle school and high school notes. For example, when reading a Reading Skills
bands, the segments of melodies are dyad, D and E, noted on the fourth
commonly written in groups of notes line and fifth space in treble clef, 1. Stepwise Motion
Piano pedagogy is a good place to
with a “stepwise” motion. Training students already know D. However,
start when seeking a better method
students to read stepwise melodies they may not recognize that E is
of teaching beginner percussionists.
is essential and practical. However, immediately next because they rely on
Many piano pedagogical books for
more often than not, instructors teach the space-line system to find out that
beginners start with playing one pitch
note identification using a space-line E is in the fourth space (although it is
on the piano and then move to the
system: F-A-C-E for spaces and E-B- really just one step away from D on
pitch’s “neighbor” tones gradually,
D-G-F for lines on staves in treble clef. the keyboard).
in a stepwise motion, either higher
Students learn note names as the first
or lower (Example 1). This trains a
seven letters of the alphabet (A-B-C-
student to adapt to the instrument:
D-E-F-G), which is in stepwise order.
physically feeling the layout and
Example 1 intervals between the keys. It is similar
to teaching small children how to
walk on a staircase one step at a time.
Once physically accustomed to the
size of each step, children gain the
ability to skip one or two steps as they
move up or down the staircase.

Bandmasters Review • December 2018 17 Texas Bandmasters Association