Essential Elements for Band offers beginning students sound pedagogy and engaging music, all carefully paced to successfully start young players on their musical journey. EE features both familiar songs and specially designed exercises, created and arranged for the classroom in a unison-learning environment, as well as instrument-specific exercises to focus each student on the unique characteristics of their own instrument. EE provides both teachers and students with a wealth of materials to develop total musicianship, even at the beginning stages.
Book 3 further develops music skills for intermediate and advanced musicians. Book 3 takes students through multiple key centers, individual studies, and a variety of styles of music.
Individual Studies and My EE Library
- For every instrument, studies demonstrated by a professional soloist
- Instrument-specific exercises for individual technique study or small group lessons
- Classical style piano accompaniments - not synthesized
A Multi-Purpose Book for any Band Program
- Technique building program
- Also for individual study or small groups
- Book 3 of the Essential Elements beginning band system
Key Centered System
- 9 major and related minor keys covered
- Each introduced with scales, Rubank-style etudes and a chord balance exercise
- Each key has a short, full-band chorale that includes every scale tone for every instrument
Book 2 Continuation
- More great music that explores many styles and cultures
- Challenging concepts are only introduced in familiar keys
- Introduction of triple meters (12/8, 9/8, 3/8), more triplet based rhythms, rhythmic figures with rests, and meter changes
- More music theory and terminology such as grace notes, divisi, and additional dynamics
- History and music of 16 composers, world music and style studies
- Integrated creativity and assessment that exceeds the National Standards
Special Studies Section
- Reading Skill Builders - To develop sight-reading skills
- Rhythm Pages - Like Book 1 & 2, special reinforcement for newly learned meters and rhythmic figures
- Basics of Jazz - A 2-page introduction to jazz style and improvisation, taken from Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble, but geared for concert band
- Full Chorales - For study or performance, arranged by John Higgins
- Rubank Scales and Arpeggios - In major and minor keys, in additional octaves and with downloadable audio tracks
Additional Essential Technique Features
- Woodwind trill charts and brass lip slur studies
- Large, clear, full-range fingering charts
- Practice record
- Concise, easy to use Conductor Book
Essential Elements now includes Essential Elements Interactive (EEi), the ultimate online music education resource. EEi introduces the first-ever, easy set of technology tools for online teaching, learning, assessment, and communication... ideal for teaching today's beginning band and string students, both in the classroom and at home.
