Marimba Skillz: Super Fast Alternating Double Laterals
If you're wondering if the cheer at the end was genuine and spontaneous, the answer is "yes." Just three days earlier, I couldn't play it at that speed. Needless to say, I was pumped. It's amazing what happens with regular practice! I've improved much since this recording, but this is just a snapshot of my progress at the time. So to all of you marimba technique critics, please be diplomatic in your bashing ;)
A double lateral is when you play both mallets in one hand separately, even though your wrist/arm only makes one stroke. For instance, if I play the inside mallet of one hand, quickly followed by the outside mallet of the same hand, all in one continuous motion. That would be an INSIDE double lateral, because it begins with the inside mallet. An outside double lateral begins with the outside mallet.
The permutation in this video is
Left Hand outside DL,
Right Hand outside DL,
Left Hand inside DL,
Right Hand inside DL.
I start at the interval of a fifth, then shorten to fourths, thirds, and 2nds. 2nds are very difficult with four mallets, so I use them several times before opening back up to thirds, then fourths, then fifths, and ending on an open C Major chord. For other variations, I sometimes play this in other keys (Db is a tough one), change the order of the double laterals, play them simultaneously rather than alternating, and use different intervals. There are many ways to vary this exercise.