Zachary Fisher

MUE 222
April 27, 2016
Objective: By the end of class my students will be able to successfully use basic mallet technique
on their bell kits.
Goals:
1. Instruct students to set up their drum kits but do not screw the drumhead on top.
2. Showing by example first, have students raise the claw arms on their stands.
3. Again showing by example, have students align the bells onto the stands making sure that
the center pin goes through the small hole underneath the bells.
4. Exhibit rubber mallets and explain that these are the mallets we will use for the bells kits.
5. Have students take their rubber mallets out but make it clear that they are not to play their
instrument yet.
6. Showing by example, have students hold the mallets in matched grip as we have used
many times before.
7. Explain that like the timpani, lift strokes are essential in order for the bells to ring
completely.
8. Have students try the bell kits out using only the notes of a C major triad.
1. Depending on age level, going into detail on what notes are in a C major triad is a
good idea.
2. Correct students around the room as necessary.
9. Now explain to students that correct sticking is done by leading with the right hand going
up and the left hand going down. You can also use the same hand twice known as
doubling near adjacent notes to make a shift easier.
10. With this in mind, have students outline a C major scale starting on the left had.
1. Correct students around the room as necessary.

Assessment:
Having segued directly from the C major scale, have students learn the “do, do re do, do
re mi re do…” pattern on their bells. In this case being “C, CDC, CDEDC…”. Once all students
have gotten a grasp on the pattern, divide the students into two sections. Then four, then eight,
then everyone on an individual part. Be sure to note that once the student have finished the
pattern, they are to pulse C on the quarter note until cut-off. This will greatly assess proper
sticking, proper technique, and as a bonus, the ability to hold an individual part on the bell kits.
This activity originates as a choral warmup but transfers very wells to practicing keyboard mallet
playing.