Competition Solos, Book 2 Mallet Percussion: Mallet Percussion Book & CD

A curated gallery of moods. These pieces range from whimsical and dance-like (Waltz from Album for the Young, The King's Jester) to reflective and lyrical (Barcarolle), with enough variety to keep both player and listener engaged across nine different musical landscapes.

Intermediate mallet students preparing for state competitions or festival auditions. This book serves students solidifying their technique on keyboard percussion or vibraphone who need repertoire vetted by actual state adjudicators.

• Confirm the specific solo appears on your state's approved list before committing rehearsal time; requirements vary significantly across regions.
• Use the included audio download to establish tempo and phrasing early in preparation; the recorded versions offer clear interpretive models.
• Balance mallet selection with each piece's character; lighter mallets suit the delicate character of pieces like Flower of the Orient, while more defined strikers work better for The King's Jester.

Build a competition preparation unit around these solos, assigning different pieces to different students based on their strengths and your state's specific requirements. The variety also makes these useful as solo performance opportunities in concert settings where you want to feature individual musicians.

• Keyboard percussion technique across multiple pieces with varied musical demands
• Sustained tone production and control on vibraphone
• Interpretation of Romantic and contemporary character pieces
• Sight-reading through exposure to nine distinct works in one volume
• Mallet selection and stroke quality appropriate to musical context