The Problem

When we learn new techniques on the Stick, we are fighting three battles at once. First, we are trying to learn the technique. Second, we are trying to learn the song. Third, we are trying to find a good set of staff notation or tablature (or both) that shows us the right way to do it. It is very hard to solve all three problems.

The Idea

If these techniques can be reduced to small examples or idioms, and used with a very simple, familiar tune, this will make it as easy as possible to learn the technique. Considering the three problems described above, it makes it easier to focus on the first, avoids much of the second (the tune is so simple and familiar as to not present a barrier), and for the third, perhaps many who would be unwilling to produce an extended score will be willing to create a short one, especially if the tools are easily accessible.

The Mary Project

This a project where Stick players volunteer to contribute arrangements of the song Mary Had A Little Lamb. A free viewer can be used to view the staff notation and tablature, and the viewer will also play the file as if it were a MIDI file. For many a PDF of the staff notation and tablature and/or a sound recording is included. The examples range from extremely simple to advanced.