I've only been playing marimba for a few months. I'm using the Stevens grip, and I'm having a hard time getting enough strength to mallet #1. I'm right-handed. Any suggestions to build strength on the left-most mallet would be greatly appreciated.

Bob- Try playing rolls between mallets 1 and 4. Use large intervals such octave and tenths. Here's some other stuff to do:

Sight read easy stuff using only your week hand/mallet

Play easy tunes by ear using your week hand/mallet

Play scales/arpeggios with your week hand/mallet

I hope this helps! BTW, weren't you looking to buy an instrument awhile back? Did you get one?