Band Today, Part 3 Cover Image

Band Today, Part 3: Drum Book

$6.95 USD
$6.95 USD
Skip to product information
Band Today, Part 3 Cover Image
Band Today, Part 3: Drum Book

Band Today, Part 3: Drum Book

A Band Method for Full Band Classes, Like-Instrument Classes or Individual Instruction

By James D. Ployhar

Item: 00-CBC00207
$6.95
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Band Today, Part 3: Conductor (Piano Acc.) Book

$24.99
View

Band Today, Part 3: C Flute Book

$6.95
View

Band Today, Part 3: B-flat Clarinet Book

$6.95
View
Description
Band Today, Part Three is a basic method book for the advanced- intermediate level of band development. This method book will help develop a sound musical background and teach the musical skills necessary for membership in the more advanced school bands. Band Today, Part Three contains basic major and minor scales in addition to scale studies, rhythmic studies, chromatic scales, articulation studies and technic tunes designed to improve musicianship in a challenging and enjoyable manner. In addition there are studies of contemporary rhythms which will better prepare to play modern compositions by contemporary composers.

Band Today, Part 3: Drum Book isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

No sample pages found.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Contemporary Band Course
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 32
ISBN10: 0-7692-2779-1
ISBN13: 978-0-7692-2779-5
UPC: 029156043570
SKU: 00-CBC00207
Instrumentation: Drums

More about this title

About the Author: James D. Ployhar

James D. Ployhar

James D. Ployhar has shaped generations of young musicians through over 800 published compositions and arrangements. His Contemporary Band Course, now published by Alfred Music, stands as a foundational resource in band programs across North America and beyond, with translations in French and Norwegian reflecting its international adoption. His orchestration studies under Morris Hutchings Ruger at California State University-Long Beach and collaborative work with Knud Havalde of the Danish Royal Philharmonic inform the sophisticated yet accessible voice throughout his catalog.

Plyohar's dual expertise as both educator and clinician runs deep. Beyond 19 years in public school teaching, he has conducted and taught at colleges and universities throughout the United States, Canada, Norway, Germany, and England. His contributions to music education earned him the National Band Association Citation of Excellence and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Valley City State University. His music has aired on network television and been performed internationally in Europe, Japan, and the Pacific Rim.

Why we love this

Ployhar built the Contemporary Band Course on a philosophy that method books should challenge students without frustrating them. The drum book's inclusion of contemporary rhythms alongside traditional scale work and articulation studies means drummers aren't trapped in classical patterns; they're learning the vocabulary they'll actually need for modern repertoire. The 32 pages pack genuine pedagogy that respects the role percussion plays in ensemble balance and style.

What to expect

Structured yet engaging. The progression from scales and articulation studies to contemporary rhythm patterns mirrors the real demands of modern band literature. Students feel the shift from foundational technique to practical musicianship.

Who it's for

Advanced-intermediate drummers ready to move beyond fundamental method books and into more sophisticated rhythmic and technical material. This book serves students preparing for membership in top-tier school bands where precision and musical maturity are expected.

How to get the most out of it

  • Work the chromatic scale passages slowly at first, focusing on consistent mallet rebound and control of dynamics across the range of the drums.
  • Apply the contemporary rhythm studies to repertoire your band is already performing; match the written figures to similar passages in current concert music.
  • Balance your practice between the technical studies and the articulation work; clean articulation matters as much as facility when playing in ensemble.

How to use it

Assign this as a parallel text during the second half of your band year, when students have solidified their fundamentals and can focus on refinement. The contemporary rhythm studies dovetail perfectly with introducing students to 20th and 21st-century band repertoire, preparing them to navigate the stylistic variety they'll encounter in honor bands and college auditions.

Skills your students will build

  • Major and minor scale mastery across the instrument
  • Chromatic scale facility and accuracy
  • Contemporary rhythm patterns (syncopation, off-beat figures, mixed meters)
  • Articulation clarity and control
  • Mallet technique and rebound management
  • Musical interpretation of studies designed for ensemble contexts

You May Also Like