Band Today, Part 3: Bells (Mallet Percussion) Book

Ployhar designed this book specifically for the advanced-intermediate player who has moved beyond basics but still needs structured skill-building. The balance of scales, technical studies, and contemporary rhythm patterns gives you versatile material that develops both fundamentals and readiness for modern repertoire without feeling like remedial work.

Structured yet musical, these studies balance the disciplined work of scales and articulation with the engagement of rhythm exploration. You'll find yourself building genuine musicianship through carefully sequenced exercises that reward focused practice.

Percussionists in advanced-intermediate bands who have progressed beyond introductory methods and are preparing for more sophisticated ensemble repertoire. This book serves students ready to deepen their technical foundation and gain fluency with rhythmic patterns found in contemporary band compositions.

• Approach the articulation studies with attention to clarity and consistency across the range of the instrument; bells reward precise stroke execution, so use these exercises to refine your mallet control.
• When working through contemporary rhythm studies, isolate challenging figures slowly before integrating them at performance tempo; these patterns often appear in modern band compositions, so deep familiarity here accelerates your ability to learn new pieces.
• Use the chromatic scale studies to build confidence across the full range; mallet percussion benefits from understanding how patterns translate across the keyboard, and this systematic approach builds that flexibility.

Assign this systematically throughout the school year as your primary method text for advanced-intermediate percussionists, cycling through scale studies and articulation work alongside your concert repertoire. The contemporary rhythm studies pair naturally with new band compositions on your concert programs, giving students the technical preparation they need before learning unfamiliar styles.

• Major and minor scale facility across the full range
• Chromatic scale fluency
• Articulation control and clarity
• Contemporary rhythmic patterns (syncopation, mixed meters, modern time signatures)
• Technical facility and mallet control
• Sight-reading of rhythm-based musical ideas