User Manual

DR. MICHAEL VARNER 2
Yamaha Corporation of America • Band & Orchestral Division
3445 East Paris Ave., SE • P.O. Box 899 • Grand Rapids, MI 49518-0899
www.yamahapercussion.com
rolled passages should be played with an un-metered roll, younger students need the exact metering of exercises to help build confidence and to smoothly move
from note to note without a break. Begin with half-notes moving upward on a C-major scale. Concentrate on smoothly shifting from note to note without accent-
ing or interrupting the flow. Although a fast roll is desirable, make sure you are maintaining a relaxed wrist stroke with no tension or tightness. Slow down the
roll speed if necessary until you can move smoothly with a relaxed motion and full tone. As you become more confident, add scales that require shifting to acci-
dental bars. Move smoothly from the beating spot of the natural bar to the end of the accidental bar. The E-major scale is particularly good for this because the
student must shift upward, from E to F#, move horizontally from F# to G#, and finally return to the natural bars (Ex. 2). Lean your body forward slightly as you
move to the accidental bars.
Ex. 2
Go back to the original single-stroke roll exercise and begin with the left mallet.
Ex. 3
Whenever you move downward, lead with your left hand
Dr. Michael Varner