Sheet Music by Percussion Music Composer Todd Ukena

After School Rag $4.00

After School Rag by Todd Ukena
(2 mallet xylophone solo)

The only reason I can remember why this was called “After School Rag” is because I played with the themes after 3:30 P.M. in the band hall on the school’s xylophone. Its mood is happy-go-lucky (as most rags are!) Of course once you play some of the George Hamilton Green’s xylophone rags you can’t help but get happy-go-lucky.

The switch to ¾ in measures 13 and 14 is intentional. The one thing about rags is that the phrasing is quite predictable. I have always found it nice to have a little hiccup to interrupt the flow of a phrase just to make the listener wonder what just happened.

Only one dynamic level is labeled during the first roll section, (measures 15 – 23,) however it is important not to let them become static. This is a good place for the performer to choose how it can sound. (Some things to consider, crescendos, decrescendos, increasing and decreasing the tension of the rolls through the use of roll speed, etc.)

The second roll section must be played sweetly and a light touch to contrast the first rolls sections. This is the time to show the lyrical nature of this section.