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How I learned to play the xylophone and the Malletkat

11/7/2025

Here are the dozen plus steps I’ve taken to teach myself to play these instruments. Cavet: I’m not going to be turning professional. But I do play in ensembles that I’m not embarrassed to invite my students to experience. And, I’m having fun!

I really wanted to learn to play them.
1. Bassist Rory Slater said I’d be great on the things. That boosted my confidence to give it a go.
2. During the lockdown I purchased a used xylophone for $600 and started whacking the thing with 2 mallets. I was instantly hooked playing early jazz and ragtime. You can see the early results below.
3. I wanted to assess the validity of my teaching advice. Does it work? (It did.)
I knew the scope of the jazz field from my 50-year career as a professional musician and educator.
1. My 1st experience hearing, as a first-year student at Berklee , Hendrik Meurkens play be-bop vibraphone and continued with my discovery of Gary Burton, a Berklee educator inspired me.
I knew the repertoire from playing the piano.
I knew the harmonic material that I would need to master.
1. Scales
2. Chord voicings, inversions, substitutions etc.
3. Arpeggios
4. Licks
I knew that to succeed I would need to always practice musically. I would not make the beginner mistake of “learning the piece” and then adding the expression.
I used a metronome in practice.
I video taped and/or recorded all my practices so that I could evaluate my progress.
I found groups to play with.
I learned how to hold the four mallets watching Gary Burton on YouTube.
I practiced regularly and I practiced a lot.
When I got the Malletkat I modified it to play more musically.
I had a couple of lessons with Rick Dior who seconded all the steps above.
I listen to jazz mallet players. I've discovered all sorts of forgotten musicians like Dave Pike and Emil Richards.

If I can help you on your piano journey, call me.
David

Limehouse Blues. An early attempt during the lockdown.

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The musical dots don't tell the whole story.

11/6/2025

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Note how fluid the tempo is. Especially at measure 8. This is not metronomic music; it ebbs and flows. Note how the conductor gives the rhythm to the musicians. He is not just keeping the beat either, he is creating with his hands and body language.

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How I learned to play the xylophone and the Malletkat

Limehouse Blues. An early attempt during the lockdown.

The musical dots don't tell the whole story.

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Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

​How I learned to play the xylophone and the Malletkat

Limehouse Blues. An early attempt during the lockdown.

The musical dots don't tell the whole story.

Author

Archives

Categories

How I learned to play the xylophone and the Malletkat