Dr. Piascik's Recommended Mallets & Gear

There are so many great mallets and sticks made today.  Every stick will have a unique sound depending on the instrument being struck and the hall you are performing in.  You should add mallets to your collection as you perform music.  If possible, buy marimba/Xylophone mallets in sets of 4 so that the weight and handles match each other.  The following lists will get you started. 

Stage

Mallets

Gear
Beginning:
  1. Vic Firth SD1 snare sticks
  1. 8" Remo Practice Pad (w/stand)
  2. Metronome
  3. Music Stand
Intermediate Stage 1:
(Starting Mallets/Drum Set)
  1. The Beginning Student Mallets +
  2. Dave Weckl Sticks
  3. Heritage Brush (HB)
  4. Tim Genis (STG) Sticks
  5. Tim Genis (GEN5) Tonal Timpani Sticks
  6. Vic Firth M228 (2 sets)
  7. Vic Firth M414 Rubber Mallets
  8. Vic Firth M425 Bell/Xylo
  1. Drum Set
  2. Practice Marimba or similar
  3. Chromatic Tuner (I like the app "Tonal Energy")
  4. VF Stick Bag (SBag2)
  5. "Black" Hand Towel!
Intermediate Stage 2:
(Regions/State Auditions)
  1. Intermediate Stage 1 Mallets +
  2. Black Swamp "Spectrum Tear Drop" Triangle beater
  3. Black Swamp "Medium" Triangle Beater
  4. ​Vic Firth M33 - Hard Yarn
  1. Groover 6" Super Overtone OR Black Swamp 7" Legacy Triangle
  2. Amy Stubbs Triangle Clip
  3. Black Swamp TC1 Tambourine
Intermediate Stage 3:
  1. Intermediate Stage 2 Mallets +
  2. Robert Van Sice M113 (2 sets)
  3. Robert Van Sice M114 (2 Sets)
  4. Robert Van Sice M111
  5. Vic Firth Swizzles (SD12)
  6. ​Tim Genis Timp (GEN7)
  7. Tim Genis Timp (GEN1)
  8. Vic Firth M31- Vibraphone
  1. Start to save for Marimba...
Advanced Stage 1:    
  1. Intermediate Stage 3 Mallets +
  2. Vic Firth Timp- Cartwheels (T2)
  3. Vic Firth M428 - Hard Bells
  4. Robert Van Sice M115
  5. Robert Van Sice M122 (Bach)
  6. Optional: M241, M412
  1. 4.3 or 5.0 Marimba One
  2. High Quality Snare Drum (with case)
  3. Vic Firth Concert Bag (KBAG) Much larger...

Great Percussion Stores

Check out the websites below for great information and research when purchasing your gear.