OILR 4-Mallet Exercise

January 19, 2020
Mike Linnehan

This keyboard exercise several four-mallet stroke types: single independent, single alternating & double vertical.

This marching percussion 4-mallet keyboard exercise touches on three types of four-mallet stroke:

Single independent
Single alternating
Double vertical

Making sure each stroke is of equal height will ensure a uniform tone and build a strong foundation when it comes to more complex music.

Any group of four notes may be chosen at the beginning of the exercise, as long as the intervals remain the same throughout.

The rests in between each variation should be an opportunity to look around, check and set heights, and pulse.

4-Mallet Exercise for Marching Keyboard Percussion

Control. Balance. Motion. Tone.
If your front ensemble is working on 4-mallet technique, OILR belongs in your warmup library.

This original two-page exercise introduces and reinforces three foundational stroke types used in marching keyboard percussion:

Single independent
Single alternating
Double vertical

The name stands for Outside, Inside, Left, Right—a reference to how the mallet strokes move through space.

But more than just a pattern, OILR is a focused technique builder that targets the subtleties that separate clean players from great ones: mallet control, interval accuracy, motion efficiency, and evenness of tone.

Each variation emphasizes stroke height, interval consistency, and intentional pacing.

Built-in rests give players a chance to reset and check posture, motion, and alignment before the next rep. It’s not fast—it’s intentional. And that’s exactly the point.

Best used as:

A private lesson or sectional technique builder
Off-season or early-season training for front ensemble
A guided exercise for students learning 4-mallet foundations

What you’ll get (free):

Printable 2-page PDF of the full OILR exercise
Clear notation with stroke groupings and rests
Written for marimba or vibraphone (but playable on any mallet instrument)
Designed for intermediate players learning 4-mallet control

Why educators love it:

Reinforces tone and stroke evenness across all four mallets
Supports discussion of interval spacing and motion economy
Encourages musical awareness and visual uniformity
Easily modified—students can transpose, shift patterns, or create their own variations

🎧 A video play-along demo is included so students can watch the form and hear the intent behind every stroke.

Download the free PDF and start building your front ensemble’s 4-mallet foundation with OILR today.