Marimba Music for Little Kids - Just Released!

Beatin' Path Publications has just released Marimba Music for Little Kids (book/CD) – 18 songs for younger elementary students to sing and play on diatonic marimbas or xylophones. (BPP-MM4LK) by Jon Madin ($34.95)

Beatin’ Path Publications is now the publisher and distributor in North America for all of Jon Madin’s wonderful publications for elementary school music classes. To see all of his publications visit his website:

http://beatinpathpublications.com/JMadin/home.html

Marimba Music for Little Kids is a collection of songs and pieces of music for diatonic marimbas, xylophones and other instruments. These songs are suitable for children ages 5-10 (some can easily be adapted for older children too). The songs for the youngest children have actions and only a few notes to find.  Suggested retail price for Marimba Music for Little Kids (book/CD) (BPP-MM4LK) is $34.95.

Available NOW from: Beatin' Path Publications LLC, 302 East College Street, Bridgewater, VA 22812 - 540-478-4833 - beatinpath@mac.com

School and dealer discounts available. More Marimba music for schools can be found on the Beatin' Path website.

Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com

Galax Dulcimer Book/CD Already a Best Seller!

Galax Dulcimer by Phyllis Gaskins is an amazing book!  First of all it's beautiful to look through, and the included CD is a wonderful experience in listening, learning and playing along.  With full-color photos and a riveting narrative the book simply cannot be put down until read and perused from cover to cover.

Phyllis has collected pictures and stories about dulcimers and especially, dulcimers from the Galax region of Southwest Virginia, for almost 50 years and has finally taken the time to share her vast experience and knowledge for the huge benefit of her fans, students, and fellow musicians.  She joined forces with Brent Holl at Beatin' Path Publications to finally publish her story and her music.

Galax Dulcimer is a storybook, a photo album, and a historical document all in one. The history section tells the story of her relationship with various dulcimer players/builders in the Galax tradition including, Raymond Melton and Ben Seymour.  Some of the original plans for building dulcimers are included an look as though they've been taken from the original sketchs.  There is even an X-Ray image of the unique construction of the inside bracing of a Galax dulcimer.

There are 42 songs notated in authentic Galax style using Phyllis's own unique tablature.  The strumming pattern she uses is a distinct style with the strong beats strummed toward your body.  Her tab shows exactly how to play the tunes and what strumming strokes enable the tunes to be played in the authentic style. Wow!  Passing on the history and style of this amazing music like this is an incredible gift.

The audio CD is professionally produced at BeArcade Productions in Port Republic, VA and can be enjoyed by listening, but is intended as a teaching tool for playing along.  Phyllis has played each tune slowly once and then twice up to speed.  It's an excellent way to learn these old time tunes.

If you're not a dulcimer player you can enjoy the stories and history, and then play all the tunes on your violin, banjo, mandolin, or any other instrument of your choosing.  Her website has a nice slideshow and preview to see and listen to her music.

Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com

Drum It Up! - 20 Classroom Drumming Pieces for K-5 By Sandy Lantz and Gretchen Wahlberg

Drum it up - (Book) 20 Classroom Drumming Pieces for K-5 By Sandy Lantz and Gretchen Wahlberg

Work is progressing nicely on the new book of drumming activities for elementary music now being written by Sandy Lantz and Gretchen Wahlberg.  Drum It Up! includes 20 pieces that have been tried and tested with children in Sandy and Gretchen's respective classrooms and are, hands down, the favorites.

The new book will be available in time for the new school year and you can pre-order your copy to be sure you get yours! You can go to their website and take a look at sessions and workshops they've led using activities in the book.  The new book includes pieces for grades K - 6.

The 20 pieces in this book are sequential drumming pieces for hand drums, barrel drums, tubanos, congas, and small percussion.  You'll find everything from easy hand drum pieces using the echo process, to show stoppers with black light beaters or sock mallets circling and beating on giant barrel drums! 

All of these pieces are tried and true, used many times with great success with children and in Level courses, workshops, and conference sessions. Each piece comes with teaching suggestions that will start your creative juices flowing. 

"Teaching suggestions and form are merely ways for you to begin. As you play with the pieces and teaching processes, you and your students will discover new ways of teaching and learning within your own classroom percussion ensembles. In addition, student feedback can be a phenomenal way to create new and exciting extensions to these pieces. We encourage you to continuously “think outside the box” and to give your students the poetic license to do the same."

~Sandy and Gretchen

More information

Brent Holl - beatinpath@mac.com