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The Brain

Try this experiment. Next time you can't get something, or you're sort of getting it. Stop and come back to it in 10 or 15 minutes. In my practicing I usually get it right the first time. Maybe after that I'll start screwing it up, but I think my brain has had time to process the information and store it? Am I nuts? And then I come back and all is cool. After I do that a few times, I have the tune or lick or whatever down.

Something like that.

Easy method to accomplish really nice chordal rolls. For vibes as well as marimba

Playing beautiful 3 and 4 mallet chordal rolls is a goal all vibes and marimba players should work toward. Yes, vibes players mostly use the pedal to sustain notes, but sometimes using a roll is better. Here is a simple, easy to learn method you can use to play really nice rolls for 3 and 4 part chords. The trick is to have each mallet strike the bar at a different time, creating smooth legato sound.