Unlock The Keyboard - A Foundational Guide to Mallet Percussion Fluency
Stop Practicing Random Exercises. Start Building Fluency.
The percussion world is overflowing with etudes, exercises, and method books. But the truth is simple: more material does not create better players. Clarity and system do. If you feel stuck, rusty, or overwhelmed, you do not need another stack of notes. You need a blueprint. Admittedly also includes another stack of notes... but this system gets you more mileage on that stack of notes! With the same progression reimagined in different ways, you spend more time getting better technique, instead of learning notes.
"Unlock The Keyboard" turns the most proven keyboard percussion methods ever created into one cohesive and modern system. No fluff. No guesswork. Only the tools professionals rely on, refined and organized for today's player. These are the exercises that are usually passed on by rote by seasoned orchestral players. They stood the test of time, despite some of these exercise's original inspirations either being very old, or out of print. It was about time it was put together into one document showing only what is needed, no more no less.
You could get a different book that has hundreds of exercises you'll never get to... or you can only practice the ones that matter. This is purposely short on exercises because it's easy to get overwhelmed otherwise. I would know... because I went through all of them... and then made this e-book so that you don't have to. You're welcome!
What You Get:
A 145 page clarity first guide built around the three "Source of Truth" systems that develop fluency across all 12 keys, as well as two expansions:• The Pathfinder System
A redesigned and extended take on the classic Green Scales that builds smooth and predictable movement around the keyboard. This is very helpful if you are still using clunky stickings that delegate one hand to each manual. That worked in middle school... but not when tempos get faster in the real world. This system gives you a way to work through those old habits, or improve current ones.• The Interval Matrix
A clean double stop lattice that locks in spacing, accuracy, and kinesthetic awareness. Systematically takes you through every possible combination of two notes (within an octave). Extremely valuable for playing ragtime music, or post-tonal contemporary music. Whatever floats your boat.• The Chroma Code
A recursive nine step arpeggio formula that reveals the full harmonic logic of the instrument through efficient voice leading. Presented as triads at first, which is easier to learn before moving on to the colorful seventh chord progression that is featured online. No worries if you don't know music theory... all 12 keys are written out for you for in all these exercises so that you don't have to learn the music theory needed to transpose. Life is too short for that... but as you learn these in different keys you will most likely catch on enough to accidently learn music theory anyway. It's all part of the plan!• Glide Pattern
Pattern that is applied to the Chroma Code progression inspired by George Hamilton Green's Lesson 22. This pattern is able to played very quickly once learned, faster than the others! Great for building chops... and maybe showing off to others? Up to you.
• Musser Pattern
Pattern that is applied to the Chroma Code progression inspired by Clair Omar Musser's Etude in A flat. This pattern uses wider open voicings to test your coordination when the mallets are farther apart. You learn to trust your peripheral vision and the muscle memory of each hand, since you can't focus on both at the same time. Unless you're a chameleon... with those eyes that face opposite directions. You probably wouldn't be able to read this if you were a chameleon though. Or hold mallets. Anyway...
Who This Is For:
- Adult Comeback Players
Rebuild your technique and fill in the gaps with a structured and time efficient routine designed for real life, not a conservatory schedule.
- Band Directors
A practical and field ready manual that fixes the root problems your percussionists struggle with: height control, lane discipline, shifting mechanics, and harmonic confusion.
- Serious Students
A professional foundation for All State, college auditions, and long term fluency. This is the system professionals wish they had at the beginning.
Included Inside:
A 90 Day Practice Plan that removes the guesswork and keeps you progressing with consistency.
Full 12 Key Quick Reference Tables for every core exercise, ideal for tablets, stands, or printed practice sheets.
Instant Digital PDF Download optimized for mobile, tablet, and print use.
**What's the difference between this product and the Pattern Pack?
This product includes everything that is in the pattern pack. This product explains the whole system, teaches you proper technique, and how to practice it properly and efficiently. There is no need to buy both editions! Unless you really like giving me money? Up to you.
The Promise:
You bring the commitment, and then this guide brings the clarity and the path to real mallet fluency.
