I have an 8th grade student who is workng on xylophone. She wants to play some duets/trios with some of the other students in the band. Any suggestions??
Thanks
Walter Miller

the entertainer is out in a three part mallet trio. i would say it is about 8th grade level and itis on district and state contest lists

Walter, a.o. -

(I thought I had posted this a couple of days ago, but I don't see it on the board. My apologies if this ends up being a "double posting.")

Is your xylophone student looking to perform with other percussionists, or players of other instruments?

If it's mixed instrumentation, I'd suggest checking out your school's music library for woodwind trios, quartets, etc. (the Baroque period would be a good place to start). Just have your xylophonist play a "concert" part, such as the flute or oboe. (If your student is truly dedicated, you might assign a clarinet part and require her to transpose it from Bb to concert.)

This sort of approach will present the opportunity to teach your xylophonist how to phrase (and how to roll musically!), and introduce her to music she might not otherwise get to play as a percussionist.

Best wishes,

James Walker

How about some two part Bach inventions. When I first started playing mallets in 8th grade, a friend and I would always mess around with some of those. It gives the students a chance to read both clefs....also, it's Bach!! (reason enough) Anyway, all the inventions are fun to play and arent that difficult.

-Ben