The information on this pages was originally part of this website:

Marc Zoutendijk Percussion Information.

1. Jazz Vibraphone Methods
2. Classical Marimba Methods
3. Solo's and Solo Collections for Vibraphone and Marimba
4. The Marimba Music of Clair Omar Musser
5. Miscellaneous Books and Methods

JAZZ VIBRAPHONE METHODS:

Burton, Gary FOUR MALLET STUDIES
(A classic text on four mallet jazz vibe playing by the undisputed master; includes great photos of hand positions illustrating Gary's famous grip, every imaginable chord voicing and various applications to vibes, exercises for development of technique, jazz vibe counterpoint, and much much more)

Burton, Gary SOLO
A collection of several of Gary's original solo works, ranging from moderately difficult to very advanced. All are imminently playable and come with chord changes. The best known are "A Singing Song" (first recorded by Gary with Stan Getz) and Catapult (12 bar blues)

Cirone, Anthony J., editor. Master Technique Builders for Vibraphone and Marimba - Two and Four Mallet Technical Exercises. (1985)
A book of patterns, exercises, and advice to develop keyboard percussion skills contributed by players who represent "the highest level of marimba and vibraphone artists performing today." Jazz artists include: David Friedman, Bobby Hutcherson, Bill Molenhof, Ted Piltzecker, Ed Saindon, and Dave Samuels.
Miami: Belwin-Mills

Dowd, Charles. Velocity Warm-ups for Jazz Vibraphone. (1985)
This work consists primarily of scale and arpeggio exercises in different modes and key for two mallets. The last ten pages present a section entitled "On Four Mallets Playing."
Melville, NY: Belwin-Mills

Friedman, David VIBRAPHONE TECHNIQUE: DAMPENING AND PEDALING
The ultimate method to learn all the contemporary techniques of pedaling and mallet dampening developed by Gary Burton, and found abundantly throughout the styles of David Friedman, David Samuels, and many other four-mallet players.
Presented as a series of etudes ranging from very simple through advanced levels, techniques are learned quickly; in addition, many are suitable for concert performance and college jury exams.
Philadelphia: Steve Weiss

Gunderson, Terry. Guide to Solo Vibraphone (1994)
The only step-by-step method for converting a lead sheet into an unaccompanied jazz performance. Lessons on accompanying a given melody alternate with lessons on incorporating an improvised melody. All exercises are based on jazz standards. The appendix includes an extensive discography of unaccompanied jazz recordings.
Casper, WY: Mallets Aforethought

Hampton, Lionel. Lionel Hampton's Method for the Vibraharp, Xylophone, and Marimba. (1939, renewal 1967) A classic text by a classic player. Primarily two-mallet style, but with a section on "Four Hammer Arranging." Four mallet arrangements are primarily block-chord harmonizations for the melody.
New York: Robbins Music Company

Hampton, Lionel and Jean-Claude Forestier. The New Lionel Hampton Vibraphone Method. 1989
An extensive collection of chords and exercises. Primarily for two-mallets, but there is four-mallet and even six-mallet exercises.
Zurich: Hug & Co.

Lipner, Arthur. Solo Jazz Vibraphone Etudes. (1990)
A collection of twelve short etudes (average 32 measures in length) intended to "illustrate techniques which you may use to develop mallet arrangements on your own." In the many styles represented (ballad, ostinato, swing, 6/8, funk, Latin) Lipner chose to "focus on four cord types which are common to the jazz vocabulary." (Major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, and major with a #5.)
Cleveland, Ohio: Ludwig Music

Tachoir, Jerry. Contemporary Mallet Method. - An Approach to Vibraphone and Marimba. (1991)
Primarily devoted to basic technique and improvisation theory up through such things as "Executing Harmonies While Improvising."
Tennessee: Riochat Music

CLASSICAL MARIMBA METHODS:

Goldenberg, Morris MODERN SCHOOL FOR XYLOPHONE, MARIMBA, AND VIBRAPHONE
Another classic text that will take the student from absolute beginning level through very advanced levels. Strictly a two-mallet text with an orchestra approach, it includes valuable etudes, mallet excerpts from orchestral literature, and transcriptions of classical violin music for the marimba.

Bailey, Elden (Buster) MENTAL AND MANUAL CALISTHENICS FOR THE MODERN MALLET PLAYER
The finest technique book for development of two-mallet technique ever written. Contains myriads of exercises designed to increase speed, dexterity, and the thought processes. It also includes many fine etudes in various rag-time, blues, and jazz styles. The author is a virtuoso mallet player and was a member of the New York Philharmonic for many years. This text is highly also recommended by marimbist Gordon Stout, who uses many sections of it in his clinics.

SOLO COLLECTIONS FOR VIBRAPHONE AND MARIMBA:

Each book contains six intermediate-advanced solos. All compositions stimulates the development of four-mallet independence and the typical skills of vibraphone technique. Musical atmospheres which inspire as well as challenge.

Advanced four-mallet vibraphone solos, modern jazz like with a wide range of technical skills. Excellent performance material.

Two-mallets. Beginning level. Musical atmospheres between blues and modern classic. Can be used for xylophone, marimba and vibraphone. Can also be played as duetpieces.

For two-, three-, or four-mallets, xylophone, marimba or vibraphone. Beginning-intermediate level. Little musical statements for an interesting musical performance.

Four-mallet etudes with a high quality of musical expression. Composed with a sense of economy without sacrificing musical quality, this music sound more difficult than it is to play. Based on spanish, mexican and classical motifs are these pieces fun to play and equally satisfying to listen to.

DeGastyne Serge MENUET TRES ANTIQUE
Written for Jack Deagan, this four-mallet vibe solo is written utilizing two clefs (both treble) and indicates mallet sticking and pedaling. It is an excellent work for developing mallet independence on the vibraphone, and is a light, lyrical piece in a conservative style, featuring triads and seventh-chords.
Pub., Fereol Pub.

Finkel, Ian SOLOS FOR THE VIBRAPHONE PLAYER
(editor)
This excellent collection of over 30 transcriptions for vibraphone requires four-mallet technique for all works and ranges in difficulty from relatively simple to moderately difficult. The compositions represented are primarily from the Baroque and Classical periods. They are all quite short and would serve as excellent recital pieces as well as for college jury exams.
G. Schirmer

Gipson, Richard PRAYER
A chorale-style marimba solo, utilizing both consonance and dissonance of various types (triads, seventh-chords, etc.). The piece is "rolled" throughout and features many dynamic changes. Recommended as a fine first piece for developing roll techniques of various types and dynamic control.
Pub., Southern Music Co.

Lang, Morris 14 CONTEMPORARY ETUDES
These 14 etudes may actually be played on marimba, vibraphone, or even xylophone, but will perhaps sound best on marimba. They are all two mallet works, each being based on a specific scale or contemporary compositional technique. Mr. Lang precedes each etude with a short description of it's compositional structure. Intermediate level.
Pub., Belwin Mills

Larson, Keith TWO CHORALES
A good "follow-up" piece to "Prayer". The first chorale is in 7/4, rolled throughout, and features mild dissonance, with both parallel and contrary motion between hands. The second chorale is in 4/4, is also rolled throughout, and features both quartal harmony and triads moving up the instrument in various inversions.
Pub., Southern Music Co.

Peters, Mitchell SEA REFRACTIONS
An excellent introduction to four-mallet playing; Sea Refractions consists of two contrasting sections, with the first section being rolls with a slow moving melodic line above it. The second section is quite rhythmic, and utilizes independent mallet technique, with mallet stickings indicated. This work is one of the most successful pieces ever written to develop four-mallet technique .
Pub., Mitchell Peters Pub.

Steiner, Gitta CONTEMPORARY SOLOS FOR VIBRAPHONE AND MARIMBA
(ed., Cirone, Anthony)
A collection of eleven imtermediate-level solos by this well-known Czechoslovakian composer. There is a wide variety of style represented in this set of works, which includes both two and four mallet pieces.
Pub., Belwin Mills

Zwickler, Howard TONE-ROW EXERCISES
A unique collection of 14 etudes utilizing the tone-row technique of composition. With the exception of one chorale- style work, all are for two mallets. This is an extremely musical set of etudes utilizing this popular compositional technique and also quickly develops two-mallet dexterity around the instrument. This collection may also be played on marimba, vibraphone, or xylophone, but will probably sound best on marimba. Intermediate level.
Pub., Music for Percussion

THE MARIMBA MUSIC OF CLAIR OMAR MUSSER:

Out of the multitudes of compositions and arrangements for marimba by Mr. Musser, only a handful are currently in print. They are all published by Studio Four Productions (now a division of Alfred Publishing Co.) and have been meticulously edited by Joel Leach in collaboration with Mr. Musser himself. They are magnificent works suitable for performance in a variety of situations, including college jury exams, recitals, and professional performances. Etude Op. 6, No. 8 Often subtitled "Nature Boy" and the "Whole Tone" etude (due to it's use of the whole tone scale), it is very Debussy-like in quality, and consists of several short contrasting sections. An ideal piece to develop several types of four mallet techniques; short, and very musical. Unaccompanied.

Etude Op. 6, No 9 A rapidly moving four-mallet etude in B Major (don't let the key scare you) that is a perfect "follow-up" piece to the "Whole Tone" etude. A great encore or opener. Unaccompanied.

Etude Op. 6, No. 10 Another fast moving etude, but this time in C Major. This is perhaps the best known and most loved of all of the etudes. Written in 3/8 time throughout, and utilizes four mallets. Unaccompanied.

Etude Op. 11, No. 4 Written in October of 1954 (one of Clair Musser's later works), this a two-mallet unaccompanied etude. An exciting, vibrant technical display of two-mallet virtuosity, largely consisting of chordal outlines and arpeggios, with accents cleverly defining a rising and falling melodic line. This piece will definitely get your two-mallet "chops" together.

Prelude, Op. 11, No. 7 A virtuosic four-mallet etude which includes a beautiful chorale section (all rolls) in the middle, with contrasting "technical sections" on either side of it. A dramatic and moving etude.

WORKS WITH PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT

Prelude Op. 11, No. 3 A composition for two-mallets with piano accompaniment, the piece is written in 6/8 time throughout with a tempo marking of "Vivacetto." The metronome marking is 120 per dotted quarter note; however, the work is often played even faster to demonstrate incredible two mallet technique and musicianship. There are also key changes and many accidentals along the way to keep things interesting. Another of Musser's best known and often played works.

Scherzo Caprice (marimba and piano)
This is a major work utilizing both two and four mallets; it is considerably longer than any of the etudes and preludes and offers a great deal of variety and challenge (both technically and musically) to players of all levels. The beginning and ending portions are rapidly moving two-mallet sections in 3/8, with several key changes employed. The middle section is a short chorale section using four mallets. There is also a wind ensemble accompaniment available (rental only).

Polonaise Brilliante, by C. M. Weber, Op. 72 arranged by Clair Musser for marimba and piano
A beautiful, highly melodic, and technically demanding piece. This is another major work that is a must for the serious marimbist. The piece utilizes primarily two mallet writing, with only a few short sections of simple four-mallet chorale style. The two-mallet sections are quite difficult, and will require a good deal of practice. A phenomenol piece of music and well worth the effort. An orchestration by Franz Liszt is available (rental only).

Miscellaneous Methods and Books