Alfred's Basic Solos and Ensembles, Book 1: Trombone, Baritone B.C., Bassoon Book

These solos and ensembles slot directly into your curriculum without requiring hunt-and-patch resourcefulness. The inclusion of composer bios transforms sightreading assignments into musical discovery, deepening student connection to the repertoire they're learning.

The pieces balance accessibility with genuine musicality. You'll encounter melodies that sing, harmonic textures that feel satisfying to blend, and rhythmic variety that keeps pages from feeling formulaic. These aren't exercises dressed as music; they're actual repertoire scaled to emerging musicians.

This book serves trombonists, baritone players, and bassoonists in their first or second year of band study who are ready to explore solo and chamber performance alongside method book material. Directors looking for carefully scaffolded repertoire that integrates seamlessly with Alfred's Basic Band Method will find this collection indispensable.

• Use duets and trios as sectional warmups; the variety keeps rotation time fresh while reinforcing the same concepts from Units 7, 10, and 14.
• Mix the instrumentation freely across your section. A trombone solo performed by baritone, or a trio mixing trombone with bassoon, opens collaborative possibilities and keeps the repertoire from feeling prescriptive.
• Read the composer bios aloud before rehearsals or performances. A 30-second introduction anchors the music historically and gives students context beyond the page.

Assign solos and duets as sectional repertoire during the units they correlate to, giving students performance experience without delaying their method book progress. Schedule student performances of these pieces at informal concerts or rehearsal showcases to build confidence and celebrate small-group work before full ensemble programming.

• Playing independently within ensemble contexts (solos and duets)
• Balancing blend and intonation in small groups
• Interpreting phrasing and dynamic contrast without conductor guidance
• Reading and reinforcing concepts from Units 7, 10, and 14 of Alfred's Basic Band Method