This amazing ensemble technique book zeroes in on important, specific skills each musician must develop for successful ensemble performance. What makes this book stand apart is the degree of attention given to the most basic of techniques, yet those so often overlooked by musicians. Focus of sound, balance, what happens at the end of a note, matching the intensity of other players in the ensemble, and many more difficult concepts are delivered with clarity, including goals that focus the player's attention while throughout the exercise. Both new and seasoned directors will find inspiration and helpful techniques here. Your band will most certainly benefit from regular use of the book in rehearsal. This book would work well for any band performing music at the easy through medium levels.

This collection builds upon the concepts presented in Fundamental Ensemble Concepts. Each exercise includes goals for the students, as well as information for the director. The director's proactive and reactive approach to the ensemble and the music will help each student achieve their goals in this series.

J.S. Bach's wonderful chorales are perfect for orchestras...for performance, warm-up, and for the study of precise intonation and ensemble playing. This set of 28 chorales retains Bach's original four-part settings, with only octave doublings added for a richer texture and to keep the instruments in a comfortable range. These chorales are suitable for both concert and church use, with several being appropriate for the Christmas and Easter seasons.

This comprehensive technique and musicianship book will help develop, improve, and solidify the rhythmic accuracy of your students, individually and as an ensemble. The exercises, songs and etudes, along with their accompanying rhythmic counterparts and variations, have been carefully selected to enable students and orchestras to explore fundamental skills related to rhythmic development. Emphasis is placed on understanding and learning to play basic rhythmic units correctly with both the right hand and the left hand, while the order and flexibility of the materials allows you to focus on the skills needed most. Section I introduces basic note values, rest values, and divisions of the beat. The four-measure rhythms can be practiced in a variety of ways and include specific suggestions for mastery. Section II has a wealth of music, including folksongs, rounds, and excerpts from standard orchestral repertoire. Also included are "Rhythm Trainers" that help students master new rhythms before they are presented in the music. Section III focuses on the technique of variation. Familiar folksongs and time-tested etudes help students focus on successfully applying the rhythmic and melodic variations (left hand development), as well as the bowing variations (right hand development). Section IV continues the technique of variation with short, two-measure finger patterns based on tetrachords, one- and two-octave scales, and scales in broken thirds. Use of the "Finger Runners" will improve left-hand dexterity, velocity, and rhythm, while use of the "Rhythm Runners" will improve right-hand bowing technique. The flexibility of notation allows each scale to be played as major, minor, modal, and more, and the suggestions for further melodic and rhythmic variation encourage scale practice to be fun. With the variety of results-driven music and exercises, and the flexibility throughout of melodic, rhythmic, and/or bowing variation, this will be your go-to book for daily rhythm practice.

This books presents an innovative way to warm-up, improve intonation and develop better ensemble skills. With each exercise containing four distinctly different parts, the group can move from unison to four-part playing at whatever pace is appropriate. Exercises and chorales are grouped by key signature and various bowing patterns are offered as well. This is excellent supplemental material for any orchestra.

This unique book for the developing orchestra will immediately improve the group's intonation, rhythmic accuracy, and balance. Five major keys are comprehensively explored with scales, arpeggios, broken thirds, scales in rhythms and rhythm patterns. Each tonal study area culminates in two ensemble numbers suitable for performance. Even a short time spent with this indispensible teaching aid will produce good results.

This collection includes 50 short pieces such as chorales, classical works and folk tunes at the intermediate level. The book is neatly organized by key signatures and groups the major with its relative minor, helping you teach key relationships while building intonation skills and ensemble playing.

Here's an outstanding resource for all orchestra directors, from the newest to the wisest veterans. Orchestral Bowing: Style and Functionincludes a textbook with extensive details on the bowings - how they are played and how they are taught; and a workbook for the players to use an ensemble. The workbook is in a score form so that Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, and Cello/Bass all have the same book on their stands, and all learn the bowings together. These two books could greatly improve the skills of your players!