Xylophone
Xylophones are keyboard style instruments with wooden or fiberglass bars attached to a frame. Each bar is a single note. The instrument is played by striking the bars with rubber, plastic or brass mallets.
Xylophones are mainly featured in Orchestral music but sometimes find their way into popular music, a famous example being Somebody that I Used to Know by Gotye.
When you borrow a xylophone from RPL, you will receive it in a case to protect it. You will also receive two mallets.
An instrument in good condition makes better music. Please see our Care and Respect video below, to learn how to take care of the xylophone while you have it.
Never played before? No problem! You can also access free step-by-step video lessons for a variety of instruments through our digital services:
]LinkedIn Learning
Gale Courses
Kanopy
Dimensions: length is approximately 72 cm
Instrument photos courtesy of Vancouver Public Library
Videos
Tutorials
• How to Play Xylophone for Beginners (lessons on Youtube)
• Vic Firth's Percussion 101 - Xylophone (series of 10 video lessons covering maintenance, setup, mallet grip, technique and various keyboard percussion instruments)
Helpful Links
• Vic Firth's Percussion 101 - Xylophone (series of 10 video lessons covering maintenance, setup, mallet grip, technique and various keyboard percussion instruments)
Helpful Apps
• Xylophone (iTunes) (virtual xylophone, marimba and vibraphone)
• Xylophone Lessons (Google Play) (lessons)