INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Even if you do all the exercises listed with religious regularity, you're not going to get bigger legs unless you make your workouts as intense as you can stand. In order for muscle to build effectively, you need to break down the fibers and have them build back up stronger and bigger. Doing this requires working out as hard as you can, every time.  For each exercise, use as much weight as you can lift using the correct form for about 10 reps. If you can lift the weight easily for 15 reps, it's too light. If you can't lift it more than 5 times, it's too heavy. As the weeks go on, you'll need to add weight to keep up the intensity. Your muscles will stagnate if you don't lift more as they get stronger and bigger. Doing the exercises quickly and with explosive energy, rather than slowly, builds muscle faster. You'll also be able to do more reps this way. Instead of working out slowly, increase the intensity by going through your sets as quickly as possible. It's important to change up your workout routine every other week so that your muscles don't get so used to doing the same exercises that they stop growing. Keeping your muscles in a state of "shock" will force them to continue the process of breaking down and building back up ever bigger and stronger.  If you do a hard workout that includes squats, leg extensions, and leg curls one week, switch to stiff-legged deadlifts, lying leg curls and squats the next week. Adding weight is another way to keep from plateauing, so make sure you don't stagnate at a weight that's too light. Your muscles need time to rest and repair when you aren't working out. You can keep exercising, but don't do anything that's too strenuous for your legs.  Try swimming, walking, or playing basketball or tennis if you want to work out between leg workouts. Make sure you get plenty of sleep so your body has time to mend.

SUMMARY: Focus on intensity. Exercise explosively. Don't plateau. Take it easy between workouts.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Holding a mallet is like holding a drumstick or bike handle. Use your thumb to support the outside of the mallet. Wrap your index finger around the other side. This finger should not be on top of the mallet. Move your other fingers under your index finger. Your grip should be about halfway up the mallet shaft. One way to check your grip is to open up your hand. Try to balance the mallet on your index finger. The spot where the mallet feels balanced is where your grip should be. Stay relaxed as you move the mallets towards the glockenspiel. Hold the mallets about three inches (7.62 cm) above the keys at all times. Adjust your hands so that the mallets are level with the ground. Try striking one of the keys. Listen as the note vibrates cleanly. Striking near the ends of the bars produces a more muted sound. The key to good sound is a gentle strike. Don’t use force. Instead, bring the mallet down gently and allow the impact with the bar to bounce it back into position. Striking too hard will also cause the bar to vibrate too much and produce a muted sound. Don’t draw back when the mallet rebounds off the bar. Return it to a holding position right above the keys. As long as you keep the mallets about three inches above the keys, you’ll be able to play notes in rapid succession. Strike the second note with your other hand. If you hit the first one with your left, hit the next one with your right. If you hit it with your right, switch to your left. You will need to cross over your arms as you play. As you advance, you may need to play two notes with the same hand. You do this to minimize crossovers between your hands. Alternating technique is needed for playing two nearby notes very quickly.

SUMMARY:
Pick up the mallets between your thumb and index finger. Hold the mallets straight and over the glockenspiel. Aim for the middle of the bar. Bounce the mallet off the bar. Keep the mallet near the bars. Alternate hands when playing notes.