A Challenge to Traditional Vibraphone Pedagogy: Four-Mallet Technique in Early Non-Formal Music Educatioт

Abstract

Traditionally, early-stage non-formal music education with melodic percussion instruments has relied almost exclusively on the two-mallet technique, especially when introducing young learners to the vibraphone. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of introducing the four-mallet technique in early non-formal music education by comparing its effectiveness to the traditional two-mallet approach among young vibraphone students. This study represents the first quasi-experimental research in this area.