I'm toying with the idea of buying a Xylophone, but was wondering whether it's even worth doing?

I quite fancy a go at pitched percussion but have no idea how I'd even get into it. It covers quite a lot of different things so I'm scratching my head as to how you even get started if you haven't been to a music school or similar...

That and I'm not sure there will be many teachers, if any around my way for this sort of thing!?

Is there an ABRSM syllabus for Xylophone? I'll buy a monocle and everything!

If I can get links to work it's here.

http://www.abrsm.org/resources/percussionS...sComplete08.pdf

The syllabus is very old and looks like you need to play onother percussion instrument as well.

Thanks.. um I don't think I'd have room for a Timpani at the moment, but a snare drum would be doable... I'll mull it over and see if I can find any local teachers!

My cousin is a drummer so could probably help me out with doing rolls and the like.

I think trinity do xylophone or something similar. Without needing any other instrument.

Thanks for that snippet... I need to do some thinking and budgeting!

So then you're going to have a piano, a computer and a xylophone all in a line !!

The alternative is something windy but I'm still not convinced, and I'm not sure my neighbours would be either! I'd get the RSPCA round for reports of tortured animals or something!

I think the neighbours possibly might prefer windy noises than the loud crashes and bangs that you'd make with percussion.

You don't give up, do you? I could use pillows or something to dampen the noise?

Haha, that reminds me of the mute for the tuba last night, I had to laugh, he may as well have used a traffic cone!

We were right above the tuba, so he was about the only one we couldn't see

Were you by the choir bit then or up in the gods behind me? *confused*

Erm, not sure where the choir would be. We were in the front row of the far right of the circle, if that's any help.

Ahhh ok.

There were a load of empty seats near me which was odd... I guess some people couldn't make it. A cheeky bunch of people obviously spotted them and sneaked in there for the 2nd part! They were openly boasting about the fact that they'd escaped "cheap seats"...

Good idea to do percussion, but then I`m a little biased! If you were wanting to do exams in just tuned percussion, then both LCM and Trinity offer these. ABRSM only offers it with timpani or snare drum.

As you already play piano, this would really help you with picking up tuned percussion. I find snare drum really useful with my other instruments as well, as it gives you a chance (in a way) just to focus on rhythm. Then again, there`s always the technique to think about, as well!

It is possible to play xylophone with very soft sticks, and you can get drum pads, so they won`t be as loud to practise as one might imagine!

I hope you go for it! Enjoy...

I quite like the sound Xylophone makes with the softer sticks I will probably end up getting one sooner or later regardless!