Im preparing LH Stevens' Rhythmic Caprice, for a competition this summer, which as some of you may know, greatly involves playing with the shafts of the mallets. I have never prepared a piece requiring this and was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on how to approach it. Is there a standard technique to it, or an ideal mallet shaft? Any advice is appreciated.

-Asheton Lemay

Not really man, keep em angled up so they always hit the shaft. Shafts are whatever, but I've only heard birch with this one, maybe it's cool with rattan. Oh and pay attention to the different tone colors availble as you hit higher or lower on the shaft.