How to Properly Strike a Xylophone

Mahalo xylophone expert Jay Laura teaches you how to properly strike your xylophone with a mallet. 

Lesson 2: How to Properly Strike a Xylophone
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The xylophone consists of hardwood bars, decreasing in length from left to right, set on a metal frame.c It is played by striking these bars with hard mallets.  The longest bars produce the lowest pitch notes and the shortest the highest.c In order to achieve the best sound, it is first necessary to learn how to properly strike a xylophone.c

Step 1: Hold Mallets Properly
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In order to achieve the best sound from the xylophone, it is necessary that you first hold the mallet in the correct grip an appropriate distance from the instrument prior to striking. Find the center of gravity of the stick--the point at which you can balance it on a finger--and then grip this point between your second finger and thumb.c Then wrap the rest of each hand around the stick, beneath this point, so that the stick is held loosely by the center of your fingers.c It is appropriate to hold each stick about 12 inches above the xylophone at a slight angle.c  

Step 2: Practice Different Striking Methods
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Once you have prepared yourself to strike the instrument, you may practice three different methods of doing so. These are the single stroke, the single stroke roll, and the double stroke roll.c A single stroke is when you hit the xylophone once with a mallet.c  A single stroke roll is when you go back and forth between your right and left hand, making single strokes and gradually increasing speed.c A double stroke roll is when you hit the instrument twice with your right mallet and twice with your left.c   

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[jaylauramusic]

You guys are awesome!
Thanks for making me laugh..

[RobertDaria]

Striking with the mallets should be with an up-down wrist motion. Arms are used to move horizontally accross the keys. The left mallet should be positioned above the right mallet. The instructor in this video has it reversed.

[RattiestCargo]

You should do one one how to do rolls really fast

[carlamartinez]

Jay,
I'm planning to purchase a marimba and learn to play.  What is your suggestion for a beginner?  I'd like an instrument that I won't grow out of too soon, but know I don't have the room for a 5 octave version.  Any suggestions on octave to start out with and possibly what brands are good and what brands to avoid.  Thanks!

[aaronbrown]

When striking a xylophone there is very little if any vertical arm movement and 12 inches in proper technique is a fortissimo. When demonstrating a double stroke roll he never actually rolls which is really the only thing he does right in this video because double stroke rolls or buzz rolls should almost never be used when playing mallets. When he does finally roll in the double stroke roll section it is in fact a single stroke roll again. The amount of down stroking in this video as well is very concerning and the volume of playing remained the same even at different heights (this may be because he's using timpani mallets) I doubt this guy is even a percussionist and I would not suggest listening to anything he says.

[chenwenhua]

why not use the proper mallets for xylophone, a tympani mallet is way too different

[willsenay]

does that even sound good to you? lol. im not usually a "youtube hater" but my god. this is really funny.

[virtuallyskitz]

you are doing a real disservice here by teaching improperly. Please do us all a favor and take this video down.

[drumcorpsgirl]

way to close to the xylophone... and the xylophone is too low.... and I'm not a drummer... im a percussionist... there's a difference dude..