Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone: Mallet Instrument Book

This is the book that orchestral percussionists use because it works. Goldenberg wrote from lived experience in the New York Philharmonic, so every exercise and orchestral excerpt is chosen for genuine pedagogical value, not arbitrary difficulty. Tony Cirone's editing adds visible phrasing and clarifies sticking choices (uppercase for original, lowercase for alternatives), making the path from study to performance repertoire immediate and transparent.

Working through this book is like apprenticing with a master orchestral player. The etudes build momentum and control; the orchestral excerpts pull you into the exact moments where mallet technique matters most in real performances. There's a quiet authority to every page, free from padding or trendy exercises.

This book belongs in the hands of any percussionist serious about orchestra auditions or principal parts in college and professional ensembles. It serves equally well for high school students preparing for all-state or regional orchestras, and for private studio instruction with teachers who want a comprehensive, repertoire-grounded approach to mallet technique.

• Study the original stickings first to understand Goldenberg's voice, then explore the added lowercase alternatives to develop flexibility across different mallet types and hand positions
• Anchor yourself in the etudes before tackling the orchestral excerpts; each study isolates a technical problem that will appear in those excerpts in more complex form
• Use a practice pad or low-volume instrument when working on technique; the book is designed for controlled development, not volume
• Record yourself on the orchestral passages and listen for phrase shape; the added phrasing marks are signposts, not restrictions

Assign sections of this book systematically to percussionists preparing for orchestral repertoire in concert season. When your orchestra is programming works featuring keyboard percussion soloists, the relevant Goldenberg excerpts become an essential bridge between technique and performance, ensuring players understand the orchestral context before performance day.

• Four-mallet technique and independence across the keyboard
• Stick control and rebound management on xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone
• Reading and interpreting phrasing in percussion parts
• Sticking choices and hand position changes
• Transposing and adapting orchestral excerpts across different mallet instruments
• Rhythm accuracy and subdivision in complex meters