Here's a fun and easy piece that beginning musicians will enjoy for their very first concert. Using only the first few notes taught in beginning band methods (and with slightly more challenging percussion parts), this bold and educational program piece will be an entertaining concert favorite. Fun and easy to play, it's just the right piece to encourage and delight your young players.
Arabian Dreams captures the mystique and sense of adventure that surrounds the desert land of Arabia. The exotic sounds begin slowly and mysteriously, leading to a lively tempo change and dance-like feel that is introduced by the percussion section. The colorful harmonies provide a great opportunity to introduce young musicians to the use of accidentals, making this an educational as well as an entertaining addition to elementary band programs.
Throughout history, the awe-inspiring sight of a fleet of powerful warships never fails to impress. This full-sounding and dramatic work for first-year band projects the menacing thrill of naval power on display. You can increase the impact by adding as many players as you like to the percussion parts, creating a sonic broadside that will rouse your audience.
The powerful writing of this majestic work will allow young students to express their energy and enthusiasm through strong full band passages. The emphatic and unrelenting rhythms create an ominous atmosphere as the commanding image of this mighty warship slowly comes into view. Unyielding and incessant, it draws ever closer, bringing a full array of musical weaponry to bear.
Just about everyone who has been to summer music camp has come home with a bucketload of fun stories about the many activities. Campfire Song has its origin in such a story and even includes the sound effects of a crackling campfire. The melody started as an inside joke in the form of a catchy, impromptu song that had its first and last performance at a camp's season-end campfire. This setting is meant to be a fun selection - don't be surprised if audience members are humming the tune as they leave the auditorium!
A very playable treatment of the traditional Christmas carol Here We Go Awassailing that is the perfect selection for your beginners' very first holiday concert. This arrangement changes the 6/8 and 2/4 time of the original carol to a far more accessible 4/4 time throughout and the ranges and rhythms are well within the capabilities of first-year musicians. This festive setting will have elementary bands welcoming the holiday season in grand fashion on their debut performance.
This twist on O Christmas Tree will surely be a holiday favorite. Based on the traditional carol, a jazzy samba percussion beat is added to give a fresh and lively feel that will brighten any concert program. This arrangement takes the well-known tune's 3/4 time signature and changes it to 4/4, one that first-year players will be more familiar with. With many percussion parts, safe doublings throughout and a groovy Latin beat, this is sure to be your audience favorite on your Christmas program!
Creepy Crawley Critters is an entertaining piece that beginning bands will enjoy playing; clarinets don't cross the break, and ranges are within the limits of first-year players. The overall effect is one of a small bug crawling or flying around, annoying the members of the band. The use of ratchet and slapstick adds to the entertainment factor and makes additional fun for percussion students. For even more entertainment value, you may want to consider conducting with a fly swatter or providing several swatters to students to use when they have rests.
This elementary band work will build confidence and enthusiasm in your beginners with the bold yet easy writing. The ranges are limited and the simple rhythms will require minimal rehearsal time, making it easy to prepare and perform. Your young drummers will especially enjoy the exciting percussion parts that add to the brave and heroic nature of the piece.
These delightful ideograms have become a standard feature of everyday life! They show up everywhere, so why not on your beginning musicians' concert programs? This lighthearted and upbeat music reflects the fun aspect of these memorable characters and is sure to captivate your young players and their audiences.
Beginners will be able to perform this holiday setting at their very first concert. Based on the popular carol Angels We Have Heard on High, it makes a great concert opener for elementary bands. Repeated eighth-note rhythms and full scoring will make this energetic setting easy to rehearse and perform and will have young players feeling and sounding confident and proud.
This highly energetic work for beginner and developing bands captures the explosive nature of a flash point, the temperature at which combustible vapors ignite when exposed to flame. Students have the opportunity to work on articulation and dynamics, while young percussionists have many interesting and appealing parts to draw their interest. A real standout on first-year programs.
Bring nature indoors to your performances with this delightful musical depiction young players will love. The chase is on as wood blocks depict frogs hopping away from musicians determined to capture their slimy prey. Carefully written for beginning players, it's a fun, descriptive work complete with a musical "yuck!" and a final "splash" of escape into the pond.
The Hammer of Thor is a musical work that depicts the power and might of the well-known Norse god Thor and his thunderous weapon. Depicted in mythology as one of the most fearsome weapons of all time, the legend tells of it being capable of leveling huge mountains. Performed with energy and force by young bands, it will certainly be as impressive as the hammer described in legend and lore.
This piece was written to create a fun yet educational way for first-year players to develop their counting skills in a playful setting. Everyone recognizes the cute title; its meaning is brought to the fore as the conductor helps young players maneuver through various counting traps while they avoid being the one that plays on one of the rests.
This well-known holiday favorite receives a new twist in this arrangement for first-year players. The clever setting is written to be performed as a full-band piece or as a percussion ensemble feature for seven players. Another performance option is to have the band play the opening two bars followed by just the percussion performing the first time through. On the repeat the band can join in for a full-ensemble finish, making a nice change in presentation - perfect for any holiday or winter band concert.