Simple Steps to Confident Mallet Sight-Reading
by Brian Flack
Look Up! by Brian Flack © 2026 Tapspace Publications, LLC (ASCAP). All rights reserved.
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INTRODUCTION
LOOK UP! is designed to help students get their eyes up and AWAY from the mallet instrument while still feeling comfortable reading music notation. This is done by “shrinking” the instrument in the following way: The student starts off with only two pitches, allowing the player to put 100% focus on the music in front of them. By adding a third note, the student can still feel very comfortable in this smaller instrument range. After adding a fourth and fifth note, we can begin adding rhythmic difficulty as the exercises progress from EASY all the way to EXPERT.
WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK
▶ 2- and 3-note sight-reading melodies in C
▶ 4- and 5-note sight-reading melodies in F
▶ Four difficulty levels
» EASY - Quarter notes/rests and eighth notes/rests.
» MEDIUM - Dotted notes and ties are added.
» HARD - Sixteenth notes and triplets are added.
» EXPERT - Time signature changes are added.
▶ Dynamics - EASY/MEDIUM/HARD levels in C and F are presented with and without dynamics.
▶ 6/8 time signature - 6/8 versions of EASY and HARD levels
▶ Key Signature Appendix - All remaining keys are included for EASY/MEDIUM/HARD levels. Challenge yourself by flipping to any page (pgs. 42–107) to practice your sight-reading!
Here are some helpful tips for your sight-reading journey:
▶ This book assumes the student has a basic understanding of music notation.
▶ When learning in a group setting, place less experienced students with more experienced students, doubling on each mallet instrument.
▶ Try to learn a couple of lines of any 2 NOTES melody and then switch to the 3 NOTES version. The rhythm remains the same while adding one new pitch. This helps the student retain the previous rhythm while focusing on only one new pitch.
▶ Sight read at a tempo that YOU are comfortable with. If you are looking for a challenge, bump the tempo up!
▶ Start by giving yourself 30 seconds to look over the melody before playing. As you get more comfortable, take less time for perusal.
▶ During your perusal time, avoid the “easy” measures. Focus your time on the measures that seem more difficult. You’ll thank yourself later!
The Key of F is not included in the appendix because it is already covered in the 4- and 5-note melodies in the
2 NOTES with dynamics!
3 NOTES with dynamics!
4 NOTES with dynamics!
5 NOTES with dynamics!
2 NOTES with dynamics!
3 NOTES with dynamics!
4 NOTES with dynamics!
5 NOTES with dynamics!
Gb Bb
D E
KEY SIGNATURE APPENDIX
So you’ve conquered the 4- and 5-note melodies in the key of F… Now hone your skills by trying them in the rest of the keys!
b Eb
EASY
EASY
EASY