HI,
I was wondering what people do to keep their chops in shape when they don't have access to an instrument?exercises or routines?

Dave

Hi Dave -

This is a good question that often comes up in discussion. I walk around with a picture of a 5 octave marimba in my wallet. When i want to practice exercises out of MOM, Ideo Kinetics or work on a particular marimba piece, i will take the picture out and simply stare at it. Visualizing mentally that i am at the instrument practicing.

To make sure you get the most of this technique, i recommend that you are in a quiet, open environment condusive to your practicing where you can concentrate fully. I also recommend that you do this technique in a private setting, many people,who are not marimbists,will tend to stare at you thinking your weird or something if you do it out in public.

If you are unable to find a marimba pic, another technique i use is that i will memorize a piece of music such as Seuyoshi Mirage, then once the piece is all memorized i will mentally visualize that i am practicing that piece at the marimba. I find that if you close your eyes and visualize meditatively that your practicing it will maximize your results.

Best of luck in your studies.

Sincerely, Lon Stetz

You might also try just going through different strokes/permutations on the floor with your mallets - do all the different laterals, double laterals, etc... (1234,1324,etc...) this will keep your chops in shape - i had to do it for years because i lived far away from the school i attended...

good luck to you -

It doesn't hurt to start saving money, either.

Hi, this is something i've been dealing with for a long time. you'll probably laugh at this one but i use the bottom of a kayak in my garage! it's just about at the right height and i can get a pretty good tone out it.

would i recommend purchasing a practice yak? naaaaa,
but at least it's keeping my hands going. and the kayak keeps me in somewhat decent shape. hehehe

so with a table or something you can at least get to practice the different sticking combos and work on your one hand rolls etc. and it's a good time as any to work on this stuff with a metronome.

i've also been working up some pieces on a keyboard. using just two fingers on each hand like i would mallets. so i'll at least know the mechanics of some pieces when i finally do get an instrument.

good luck, and try to have some fun.

mike

sit with your back against a wall and put your hands/mallets to the side of your legs. SImulates the posture at a marimba pretty well. Work permutations, mallet independence, one hand rolls..it works pretty well.