Percussionist Marcel Jorand (b. 1937) studied at the Paris Conservatoire where he won many prizes including first prize for his instrument. His professional work as a performer and teacher combined produced many well-informed study books for Percussion including First Book For Xylophone.  Following his graduation from the Paris Conservatoire Jorand worked with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France as a soloist. In 1978 he went on to teach at the Regional Conservatory of Montpellier and direct the Ecole municipale de Juvignac. Soon after his move to the South of France Jorandproduced First Book For Xylophone. These studies address a wide range of aspects of technique for beginners of the instrument. Marcel Jorand's First Book For Xylophone is imperative to the technical progression of all aspiring Xylophone players.

With few study books existing for the Xylophone Jacques Delécluse ensures that this gap is filled with his excellent Twenty Studies for Xylophone. French percussionist and composer Delécluse studied at the Paris Conservatoire in the mid-1900s winning many prizes. The exercises in Twenty Studies for Xylophone are technically challenging intended for advanced students of the instrument. Aspects addressed include complex rhythms accidentals scales tempo dynamics ornamentation key signatures among other features. For all aspiring Xylophone players Delécluse'sTwenty Studies is essential having been compiled by a master of percussion himself.