PLATINUM AND DIAMOND LEVELS
READY FOR A CHALLENGE?
After you’ve mastered all 12 two octave Major Scales and Arpeggios at the Gold Level, you’re ready for a serious challenge! The PLATINUM LEVEL of the play-along track requires you to perform each scale and arpeggio, ascending chromatically (starting on C, up to Db, D, Eb, etc). You’ll find out very soon whether you really have each major scale and arpeggio mastered!
Even more difficult than scales will be to play all six of the technique exercises in chromatically ascending order! If you can accomplish this at the Platinum Level, you’re well on your way to mastering two mallet fundamentals.
MAJOR SCALES AND EXERCISES: PLATINUM
Each scale or exercise starts in the key of C, then proceeds chromatically to the next (C, Db, D, Eb, etc)
MAJOR SCALES AND EXERCISES: DIAMOND
After you’ve mastered all 12 two octave Major Scales and Arpeggios at the PLATINUM Level, you’re ready for the final challenge!
The DIAMOND LEVEL of the play-along track requires you to perform each scale and arpeggio in the “circle of 4ths” (starting on C, up to F, Bb, Eb, etc). Each major scale and arpeggio adds a flat, or subtracts a sharp as you work through the sequence. If you’re new to the Circle of 4ths and 5ths, refer to the graphic for the order (clockwise for 4ths, counter-clockwise for 5ths).
RECOMMENDED MALLETS FOR BELLS, XYLOPHONE AND MARIMBA
Selecting the right mallet for learning your scales and arpeggios is one of the most important decisions a percussionist can make. A great mallet will not only create the tonal color you’re looking for on each of the keyboard instruments, but the weight and balance between the head and the shaft will help you to develop a relaxed, fluid stroke on all of your two mallet exercises. We recommend these mallets as a great starting point for all percussionists to have in their bags!
DOWNLOAD THE TWO MALLET FUNDAMENTALS POSTER AND E-BOOK
These files are great for students to keep in their band binders! For programs with large-format color printers, the Two Mallet Fundamentals poster is available in a high resolution graphic image. All the scales and exercises are available in the Two Mallet Fundamentals E-book for student reference at home or in the classroom! Easy to follow keyboard graphics make learning your scales and arpeggios a no-brainer for students at any level.
Are you a percussion instructor or band director who would like to have a full sized poster for display in your rehearsal room or private studio? Or a retail music dealer who would like to have a supply on hand for your school accounts?
Contact the Vic Firth customer service team to find out how to receive physical copies in the mail!
https://vicfirth.com/pages/contact
