Band Today, Part 3: B-flat Trumpet (Cornet) Book

Part 3 builds on solid fundamentals with real musical substance rather than just technical exercises. Ployhar balances scale work, chromatic passages, and articulation studies with actual "technic tunes" that sound musical when played, keeping students engaged rather than bored. The inclusion of contemporary rhythms prepares trumpets for the modern repertoire your band will perform, making this book relevant beyond the standalone method.

Working through Part 3 feels like stepping into more sophisticated musical territory. The studies have substance and variety rather than repetition for its own sake, and the inclusion of contemporary rhythmic patterns gives a sense of learning music that's actually being written and performed now, not just historical exercises.

Trumpets and cornet players who have progressed beyond foundational method materials and are moving into the intermediate-to-advanced range of high school or competitive community band programs. This book serves as a bridge between basic technical development and the demands of contemporary ensemble repertoire, assuming players already read standard notation and handle basic major keys.

• Approach the scale studies as musicality exercises, not just fingering drills. Shape each scale with dynamic contour and consistent air support rather than executing them mechanically.
• Use the articulation studies to refine your attack and release in isolation before applying those techniques to the full pieces in your band repertoire.
• When working through the contemporary rhythm studies, slow them down enough to lock in the subdivision. The accuracy you build here transfers directly to modern compositions your ensemble will tackle.
• Work the chromatic scales in sections of four to eight measures, focusing on consistent tone quality across the accidentals rather than rushing through the full passage.

Assign sections of this book as focused study material during the second half of your rehearsal year, when your ensemble's foundational endurance and reading ability are solid. The contemporary rhythm studies pair well with your fall and winter selections of modern band compositions, giving students technical preparation that directly supports the pieces on your concert programs.

• Reading and executing major and minor scales across multiple keys
• Playing chromatic passages with consistent intonation and tone quality
• Managing articulation clarity (tonguing and slurring) in isolated technical contexts
• Interpreting and performing contemporary rhythmic patterns (syncopation, mixed meters, contemporary note values)
• Building technical fluency through musical "technic tunes" that apply fundamental skills in melodic contexts