User Manual

NEY ROUSARO 4
Yamaha Corporation of America • Band & Orchestral Division
3445 East Paris Ave., SE • P.O. Box 899 • Grand Rapids, MI 49518-0899
www.yamahapercussion.com
Ney Rosauro
Mallet Considerations
It is very important (especially for the marimba player) to use longer mallets
than the average vibraphone/marimba mallets. I use longer mallets on the
marimba, and I personally prefer rattan handles, because I think that the
rattan’s swing gives a much warmer sound on mallet instruments. Another
important point is that the rattan should neither be too thin, which can cause
the mallets to swing too much, nor too thick, which causes a dry sound like
birch handles.
Conclusion
Finally, I would like to review some of the advantages of the above grip.
1. It is very natural for the hands and easy to learn. It can be applied to
vibraphone, marimba and multiple percussion, or any other percussion
instrument.
2. It gives the same power and speed of a two-mallet player, as with Burton’s
grip, without this grip’s traditional click.
3. The use of the 5th finger to keep the weight and swing of the internal
mallet controlled, and the position with the palm of the hand in a vertical
position (for small intervals) gives the player more independence to work
with one-hand rolls and certain double lateral patterns.
4. This grip allows the use of the “Musser roll” or “ripple roll” concept,
especially on the marimba for expressive four-mallet rolls.