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Julia Gaines’ Sequential Studies for Four-Mallet Marimba (Book 2) continues the pedagogical quest to produce well-rounded, musical marimbists. In this more streamlined and niche volume, Julia focuses on a specific performance style that is idiomatic to the marimba: the chorale. This book contains 20 individual lessons, with the goal of producing beautiful, lush, and above all, smooth rolls.
In keeping with the form of Sequential Studies (Book 1), Book 2 features 8 solos of varying musical style with original compositions by Julia Gaines, Tracy Thomas, Larry Lawless, Jamieson Carr, and Rob Green. Also included are classical arrangements by Brian Tate who also contributed to the book as an editor. Each solo is a practical application of the lessons that precede it and provides a musical context for the student to hone their technique.
Any developing marimbist would find the 20 lessons and 8 solos to be hugely beneficial and would find themselves to be a much more musical and technically proficient player!
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
This is an incredible follow-up to the first book in Julia Gaines’ Sequential Studies series. The series aims to separate broad categories of literature difficulty (e.g., beginner, intermediate, advanced) into 10 levels, each with clearly defined characteristics. This is called the Performance Level System. This book covers Level Two of the system and focuses on “the heart of the chorale,” which Gaines defines as “the last two strokes of the chord you’re coming from and the first two strokes of the chord you are going to.”
The book is split into an introduction and two main parts. The introduction covers topics like proper beating spots, the piston stroke, correct arm position, and more. Parts one and two each have 10 lessons with four solos interspersed. The lessons start by covering such topics as double vertical rolls, single alternating strokes, and single independent strokes. Then carefully chosen combinations of different stroke types and motions are introduced in new lessons to build mastery of movement around the instrument.
The solos are appropriately placed throughout the book, utilizing aspects from each of the preceding lessons. Performance notes discussing technical and musical considerations follow each solo. Useful appendices at the end of the book list characteristics and published examples of level-two literature, as defined by the Performance Level System, along with a glossary.
This book is an excellent pedagogical tool to use with beginning students, but it also works well for seasoned players by offering plenty of good material for warm-ups. Although the book focuses on chorales, its lessons help build the foundation of good technique necessary to progress to more difficult literature of all types.
—Brian Elizondo
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 3, July 2019
Julia Gaines’ Sequential Studies for Four-Mallet Marimba (Book 2) continues the pedagogical quest to produce well-rounded, musical marimbists. In this more streamlined and niche volume, Julia focuses on a specific performance style that is idiomatic to the marimba: the chorale. This book contains 20 individual lessons, with the goal of producing beautiful, lush, and above all, smooth rolls.
In keeping with the form of Sequential Studies (Book 1), Book 2 features 8 solos of varying musical style with original compositions by Julia Gaines, Tracy Thomas, Larry Lawless, Jamieson Carr, and Rob Green. Also included are classical arrangements by Brian Tate who also contributed to the book as an editor. Each solo is a practical application of the lessons that precede it and provides a musical context for the student to hone their technique.
Any developing marimbist would find the 20 lessons and 8 solos to be hugely beneficial and would find themselves to be a much more musical and technically proficient player!
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
This is an incredible follow-up to the first book in Julia Gaines’ Sequential Studies series. The series aims to separate broad categories of literature difficulty (e.g., beginner, intermediate, advanced) into 10 levels, each with clearly defined characteristics. This is called the Performance Level System. This book covers Level Two of the system and focuses on “the heart of the chorale,” which Gaines defines as “the last two strokes of the chord you’re coming from and the first two strokes of the chord you are going to.”
The book is split into an introduction and two main parts. The introduction covers topics like proper beating spots, the piston stroke, correct arm position, and more. Parts one and two each have 10 lessons with four solos interspersed. The lessons start by covering such topics as double vertical rolls, single alternating strokes, and single independent strokes. Then carefully chosen combinations of different stroke types and motions are introduced in new lessons to build mastery of movement around the instrument.
The solos are appropriately placed throughout the book, utilizing aspects from each of the preceding lessons. Performance notes discussing technical and musical considerations follow each solo. Useful appendices at the end of the book list characteristics and published examples of level-two literature, as defined by the Performance Level System, along with a glossary.
This book is an excellent pedagogical tool to use with beginning students, but it also works well for seasoned players by offering plenty of good material for warm-ups. Although the book focuses on chorales, its lessons help build the foundation of good technique necessary to progress to more difficult literature of all types.
—Brian Elizondo
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 3, July 2019
