SKU: CL.024-4847-00

Teaching students the concept of cut time in music can be difficult and daunting, but not so with Half Off!, an engaging, light-hearted learning tool. Using only notes and rests that are easily divisible by two, combined with a catchy tune, this song will quickly show kids that cut-time is nothing to be feared, and actually a lot of fun to play. Onward and upward with Half Off!.

SKU: KJ.WB257

UPC: 8402700100.

San Simeon Overture was inspired by the majestic cliffs and forests of central California's coastal region. An exceptional choice for a concert opener, this piece is guaranteed to give a professional sound to a beginning band using very few notes. San Simeon Overture is correlated with Standard of Excellence Book 1, page 18.

About Standard of Excellence in Concert

The Standard of Excellence In Concert series presents exceptional arrangements, transcriptions, and original concert and festival pieces for beginning and intermediate band. Each selection is correlated to a specific page in the Standard of Excellence Band Method, reinforcing and expanding skills and concepts introduced in the method up to that point. Exciting parts with extensive cross-cueing are presented for every player. Accessible ranges, appropriate rhythmic challenges, and creative percussion section writing enhance the pedagogical value of the series.

Sold individually, each In Concert selection includes a full Conductor Score and enough student parts for large symphonic bands. Each student part also includes correlated Warm-Up Studies. The Conductor Score comes complete with rehearsal suggestions, a composer biography, program notes, a rehearsal piano part, several ready-to-duplicate worksheets and a duplicable written quiz.

SKU: KJ.WB536F

UPC: 084027053256.

Earthrise is the name of an iconic NASA photograph, taken on December 24, 1968 from the Apollo 8 spacecraft while orbiting the Moon. Composer Steven Pyter depicts this historical event with the evocative tone poem for developing bands. A flute solo (cued in other instruments if needed) floats above rich sonorities. The flute's melody is passed around the band and eventually is accompanied by sparkling aleatoric woodwinds. The Apollo 8 spacecraft crests the moon's horizon and planet Earth is visible in the vastness of space. Earthrise is correlated with Tradition of Excellence Book 2, page 34.

About Tradition of Excellence: Excellence in Performance

Excellence in performance is a concert band repertoire series correlated with the Tradition of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method by Bruce Pearson and Ryan Nowlin. The compositions in the series correlate to a specific page in Tradition of Excellence Books 1, 2, or 3 and reinforce and expand on skills and concepts introduced in the method.

/Selections include exciting parts for every player, grade-appropriate cross-cueing, accessible ranges and rhythms, creative percussion writing, electric bass and rehearsal piano parts, and full conductor scores with rehearsal suggestions, program notes and composer biographies. In addition, the Grade 1 works provide an Advanced Snare Drum part for percussionists who have achieved a higher level of ability, playable simultaneously with the more basic Snare Drum part to facilitate differentiated learning.

SKU: CF.BPS124F

ISBN 9781491156155. UPC: 680160914692. 9 x 12 inches.

Personal Note My high school band director, Clarence F. Wroblewski, died on November 24, 2018. In the 1950s, he was a pioneer in the field of public school instrumental music in the Baltimore City. He was my mentor and my dear friend. It was his guidance and encouragement that set my young life's course on the path of music. Performance Notes The idea for this easy march is a parade with horses, hence the title Cadets' Cavalcade. It may be taught and performed in common time, but the feel is in 2 at the indicated tempo. Directors who wish to perform it a little faster or slower than 80 should feel free to do so. All cues are for endurance considerations. Bands that are capable of playing from beginning to end without rests may ignore the cues. When cymbals are just following the bass drum line, be certain that the player observes the proper balance.
Personal NoteMy high school band director, Clarence F. Wroblewski, died on November 24, 2018. In the 1950s, he was a pioneer in the field of public school instrumental music in the Baltimore City. He was my mentor and my dear friend. It was his guidance and encouragement that set my young life's course on the path of music.Performance NotesThe idea for this easy march is a parade with horses, hence the title Cadets' Cavalcade. It may be taught and performed in common time, but the feel is in 2 at the indicated tempo. Directors who wish to perform it a little faster or slower than 80 should feel free to do so. All cues are for endurance considerations. Bands that are capable of playing from beginning to end without rests may ignore the cues. When cymbals are just following the bass drum line, be certain that the player observes the proper balance.

SKU: CF.BPS138F

ISBN 9781491159507. UPC: 680160918096.

Woody Woodblocker is a novelty piece featuring the title instrument as a soloist. It is suitable for bands currently in the first year of lessons. It should be performed in a lively manner and played at a tempo deemed suitable by the director. While the typical woodblock is usually struck with a drumstick, the director may wish to explore other types of blocks and mallets which may prove more effective with bands of varying sizes. To overcome the issue of balance, the woodblock notes are primarily sounded while the winds have rests within a measure. Young bands, therefore, with more than a few players in the percussion section may use more than one woodblock player on the solo part without upsetting the balance between woodblock(s) and winds. Thank you for choosing this composition.
Woody Woodblocker  is a novelty piece featuring the title instrument as a soloist. It is suitable for bands currently in the first year of lessons. It should be performed in a lively manner and played at a tempo deemed suitable by the director. While the typical woodblock is usually struck with a drumstick,  the director may wish to explore other types of blocks and mallets which may prove more effective with bands of varying sizes. To overcome the issue of balance, the woodblock notes are primarily sounded while the winds have rests within a measure. Young bands, therefore, with more than a few players in the percussion section may use more than one woodblock player on the solo part without upsetting the balance between woodblock(s) and winds.Thank you for choosing this composition.

SKU: CF.YPS66F

ISBN 9780825864667. UPC: 798408064662. 9 X 12 inches. Key: Eb major.

Inspired by the fire towers that are a feature of many National Parks and forests throughout the United States and the lookouts who man them, this powerful piece begins with a majestic theme in C minor that will dominate its course. A contrasting Allegro idea featuring repeated notes, a striking percussion “break” and a subtle use of syncopated rhythms help propel this notable election to an exciting conclusion.

SKU: CF.BPS118F

ISBN 9781491152720. UPC: 680160910229.

Wolverine Trail is a concert march for beginning bands and is rather helpful in introducing beginners to the march form and style. This piece is based in the key of Eb major and uses only the first seven notes taught in most method books. It is also rhythmically accessible to beginners, as simple eighth-note combinations are the most difficult rhythms in this march. The piece follows standard march form except that is does not modulate at the trio section.
When writing this piece, I was thinking of my beginning band students at Polk County Middle School. Our school is located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and is surrounded by dense pine forests. The mascot of our school is rather fittingly the wolverine; hence, our school is located on the street named “Wolverine Trail.” Learning to be a musician is not an easy trial, as it requires hard work, dedication, and endurance. However, the trail to becoming a musician is full of rewarding and breathtaking experiences. As I wrote this piece, I was inspired by the rugged beauty of our school’s location and also how I am helping my beginner students to start on the trail to becoming mature musicians.Wolverine Trail is a concert march for beginning bands and is rather helpful in introducing beginners to the march form and style. This piece is based in the key of Eb major and uses only the first seven notes taught in most method books. It is also rhythmically accessible to beginners, as simple eighth-note combinations are the most difficult rhythms in this march. The piece follows standard march form except that is does not modulate at the trio section which begins at m. 57. It is my hope that this piece will help you and your beginners start your own musical trailblazing.

SKU: CF.PPS43F

ISBN 9781491147764. UPC: 680160905263. 9 x 12 inches.

False Start features fun melodies that young students will love to play. The piece uses rests effectively to enhance these melodies for beginning bands. Using only the first 6 notes of the Bb scale and basic rhythms, this piece offers a wide range of teachable music performance techniques, including counting, tempo consistency, dynamics, articulations, blend, balance, and style.