A+

It's tough being a musician! While most of the academic world can make a mistake or two and still qualify for the coveted A+ grade, if that happened on the concert stage, there would be a stampede out the door! Thomas Duffy takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the inherent unfairness in the life of a young musician, and gives the students "permission" to make a couple mistakes, while still qualifying for a top grade. The Prelude is precisely imprecise, with harmonic material floating around at the whims of the woodwinds. The processional-style March is at first heard in its most excellent form, then with the human element of error added on the repeat. The CD-ROM included with the band set is an incredible teaching tool that offers a teacher's guide, warm-ups and studies, composer interviews, program notes, MIDI accompaniments which allow students to play along while controlling the tempo and much, much more. This is a welcome new format for student discovery in performing concert band literature!