I know that I already may have started a thread similar to this one, but I am trying to practice my four-mallet technique away from an instrument, and would just like if anybody could contribute whatever links, exercises, and articles, etc. they may have. Thanks

There are many things that you can do away from your instruments.

You could sit in front of your tv and during commercials just bust out on permutations with four mallets. Like, 1324, 1423,4132, etc... You could also practice your music, think about it in your head while your playing in the floor to it, use the right technique and sticking. A great thing that you can practice at home is technique.

www.vicfirth.com
They offer some great marimba lessons on four mallets.

Check out some of the Drum corps website for exercises. Indoor sites like Music City Mystique have great four mallet exercises.

Suggestions from Mystique would be:
1324, Black Magic, Spatial Awarness

i totally agree w/ pitster... when i first learned 4 mallets, that's exactly what i did... sat down on the carpet and figured out what muscles in my hands i had to use by doing those 1324, 1423, 4132, etc. exercises

yup, thats what i've always been told to do.

At least use old mallets when playing permutations on the floor or on pillows. Some other things that weren't mentioned:

- play in front of a mirror
- play everything with a metronome
- work on changing your intervals (i.e. going from a 2nd to an 8th)
- do a lot of double verticals to get your chops up
- pay attention to your hand and finger positions during the stroke

Sometimes I'd do "target practice" with a plastic bottle cap to work on accuracy, as well as strength exercises with free weights for the small muscles in the hands.

Yea, Divalish wins 1st place...Everyone else thanks for playing.

Thanks for playing?

Is this a playing contest? LOL