Maybe you're rediscovering the passion of a great piece of standard repertoire,
or have discovered a "hidden gem", new or old. 

email your ideas to Jack Yonce at yonce@cmsd.k12.co.us 
.

METHOD BOOKS
Foundations for Superior Performance, by Richard Williams and Jeff King.
A great resource for technical exercises in most every key (major and minor), scales, fingering charts, and warm-up fundamentals.  I've been using this book for at least 6 years and am still learning new ways to use it.  (submitted by Jack Yonce)

Essential Musicianship, Eddie Green et. al.
Great exercises for developing ensemble listening and matching skills.  The articulation exercises are especially good.  I really like the "Student Goals" box that appears after every exercise - detailing what the students should be thinking about, feeling, and listening for.  In just a couple weeks, this book has all my bands listening more intently and thinking much more about matching style.  (submitted by Jack Yonce)

WIND AND PERCUSSION (BAND) LITERATURE
John Philip Sousa / Brion and Schissel, Washington Post March

One of the most recognized Sousa marches, with great musical potential.  (Yonce, 9/08)

John Barnes Chance, Incantation and Dance (gr. 4)
Haven't done this in 11 years, which is too long!  (Yonce, 9/08)

J.S. Bach / Alfred Reed, Come Sweet Death
Very challenging to play but worth every minute!  I think the marked tempo is too slow.  We first listened to a wonderful recording by Eugene Ormandy - the students were sold on it at that point!  (Yonce, 9/08)

John Bogenschutz, Red Rocks Fanfare (gr. 4)
Reminds me of Copland, very nice 2 minute opener.  (Yonce, 9/08)

Pierre LePlante, Prospect - Hymn for Band (gr. 2-3)
Beautiful chorale setting, with great opportunities to teach and work on phrasing.  (Butch Eversole, 9/08)

John Higgins, Regenesis - A Song for the Planet (gr. 3)
Very programatic piece inspired by the Mt. St. Helen's eruption.  (Eversole, 9/08)

Gustav Holst / arr. Sweeney, First Suite in E-flat Themes (Hal Leonard, gr. 2)
This piece provides great exposure to a band repertoire classic.  The themes are true to the original,
but appropriately adapted for young band.  Students really buy into this piece, and as a director, its enjoyable to teach.  Find a great Frederick Fennell recording of the original for the kids to hear!  (submitted by Sara Wynes, 9/08)

David Bobrowitz, A Sailor's Odyssey (Grand Mesa, gr. 2)
The Catchy melody of this piece (What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor) is passed around the band in variations.  The piece provides a great opportunity to work on articulations and style. 
(S. Wynes, 9/08)

William G. Harbinson, Evensong (Alfred, Grade 3)
A new composition we all heard at the Summer Convention. It is "a beautiful ballad in standard song (ABA) form with a brief coda." Good for younger players to focus on tone, balance and phrasing. A short song at about 3:45.  (submitted by David Miles, 10/08)
 
Michael Sweeney, The Forge of Vulcan (Hal Leonard, Grade 2... but I'm inclined to say 2.5)
My young band is loving this because they can practice at home to a full recording and get assessment with SmartMusic. About 4:00 long and uses aluminum trash cans in the percussion section! I say it's more of a Grade 2.5 if taken at the upper end of the tempo and with the various meter changes.  (Miles, 10/08)
 
Kenneth J. Alford / ed. by Fennell, The Vanished Army (They Never Die)
(Boosey & Hawkes, Grade 4)
I love it because it is a somber British march (quarter = 92) in the key of Db and Gb majors and should not be played in the typical separated staccato form of other marches. (Miles, 10/08)
 
J.S. Bach / trans. by Goldman & Leist, Fantasia in G Major (Mercury Music, Grade 4)
A wonderful and challenging piece for its sustained musical lines, intonation, and great for teaching the concert of suspensions as they are everywhere. Tempo is appropriate for taking in either 4/4 or alla breve. My students are also able to practice this one with SmartMusic and I like the built-in assignments available as well. About 7:00 long.
 
John Zdechlik, Chorale and Shaker Dance (Kjos, Grade 4)
A complex piece but a great standard based on the familiar Shaker hymn "'Tis a Gift to be Simple." A nice tune to work on balance. It demands a little more endurance at 9:00 long and is written in theme and variation form. This has also recently been added to SmartMusic. (Miles, 10/08)
 
Tim Waters, Fortress Variations (Hal Leonard, Grade 4)
A new composition we all heard at the Summer Convention, it is based on the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God." Although this theme is never heard in it's entirety, various strains are heard in variation throughout the piece.   (Miles, 10/08) 
 

Robert Sheldon: Metroplex (Thee Postcards from Manhattan), Alfred 2006
Very exciting with a great bluesy feature for an alto sax. There is some
fun mixed-meter stuff at the end that our kids love working on.  It’s
pretty note heavy but it’s very engaging for each kid in the band.  (Keena, 10/11)

 
Wagner/Boyd: Trauermusik, Ludwig 1994
A musically challenging piece for us because so much of it is pp-p.  (Keena, 10/11)



Giroux: Mystery on Mena Mountain, Southern 1985
A programmatic piece for our intermediate band.  There are some
challenging rhythms and interesting harmonies but approachable in a block
writing style.  (Keena, 10/11)

 
Charles Carter: Overture for Winds, Bourne 1959
It’s a classic and the students love it!  (Keena, 10/11)

 
Chattaway: Mazama, Wm Allen 1985
Lots of interesting percussion writing (we have 10 kids in this section).
Calls for the band to sing, and they absolutely love the drama of the wind
blowing and the far-off sounding effects of an ocarina.  (Keena, 10/11)

JAZZ BAND MUSIC
Peter Blair, Bill Baileys Back!
A nice, medium swing tune with a sax soli.  Hints at a shuffle much of the time.  (Yonce 9/08)

Shelton Berg, Hot It Up
Really cool, kind of hard "2nd Line Street Beat" tune.  Kids love it.  (Yonce 9/08)

arr Mark Taylor, Sidewinder
Great 60's Soul / Funk standard, works for limited instrumentation (Eversole 9/08)

Peter Blair, Snape Eyes
Easy funk tune for limited instrumentation.  Nice changes.  (Eversole  9/08)

Michael Sweeney, Bayside Groovin'
Half-time funk shuffle / swing tune that sounds much harder and more sophisticated than it is.    (Eversole 9/08)

O. Hammerstein II / S. Romberg / arr. by Dave Rivello, Softly As in a Morning Sunrise (Alfred)
Kids *LOVE* this tune (make sure you've got a good Bari player)! Alternates between a Latin beat and swing at a fast tempo of half note = 90. Also in SmartMusic Jazz Ensemble library.  (Miles, 10/08)
 
Don Menza / arr. by Dave Barduhn, Groovin' Hard (Jennifer Music)
Great Buddy Rich Band chart, shuffle beat throughout. You can easily add to the articulations and add some embellishments and there is no provided solo section (so you'll have to add one and provide the changes if you want solos).  (Miles, 10/08)
 
Josef Zawinul / arr. by Phil Wilson, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Kendor Music)
Another great Buddy Rich Band chart, rock style throughout. Pushes Lead trumpet to high Eb's and 1st trombone to high Bb's.  (Miles, 10/08)
 
Don Menza  Samba de Rollins (Rondon Music)
Don't play without a solid drummer! This one cooks in a samba beat at about half note = 132. Some vamps and extended solos are available. Saxes double on flute. Can be a long tune if played as is. We are not observing the D.S. and are just playing it top to bottom. A couple of very technical passages for trumpets and alto saxes.  (Miles 10/08)

Disclaimer:  publications listed on this page are for the reference of CBA members, it is not intended as an endorsement by the CBA.