Belwin 21st Century Band Method, Level 2: E-flat Baritone Saxophone Book

The inclusion of recognizable tunes like 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,' 'Sleigh Ride,' and the 'Theme from Star Wars' keeps baritone saxophonists engaged with music that feels relevant and rewarding to play. Bullock's method respects the baritone's role in the band by giving it substantial, musically interesting material rather than relegating it to background parts. The blend of technical exercises, world music, and commissioned performance pieces ensures players develop solid fundamentals while experiencing genuine variety in their weekly assignments.

Familiar melodies sit alongside focused technical studies, creating a sense of progress without monotony. The addition of two commissioned performance pieces by respected composers (del Borgo and Clark) signals to students that this method values artistry alongside skill building, raising the musical stakes of their daily work.

Level Two baritone saxophone players who have completed foundational work in Belwin Level One and are ready to expand their range and tackle ensemble material with more rhythmic complexity. This book serves intermediate players in middle school and early high school concert bands who benefit from a structured curriculum that mixes technical development with recognizable repertoire.

• Engage the full dynamic range available on your baritone when moving through the popular standards. Many of these melodies are written for upper instruments; claiming them with authority on baritone requires intentional control of breath support and voicing.
• Use the multiple accompaniment styles available on MakeMusic Cloud to reshape how familiar songs feel. Switching from a classical to a contemporary arrangement of the same melody refreshes student interest and highlights how arrangement choices affect musical character.
• Balance tone quality with articulation clarity in the rhythmic figures throughout the method. The baritone's lower register can muddy the pulse if articulation isn't precise, especially when playing in ensemble sections with other reeds and brass.

Assign this as your core method book for second-year baritone players in your concert band curriculum, using the popular standards as incentive pieces for students who complete technical sections early. The commissioned performance pieces work well as festival or festival or contest entries, giving students achievable performance goals at this level. The integrated percussion material also makes this resource valuable for teaching balance and blend when rehearsing full ensemble passages.

• Extended range playing in the middle and upper registers
• Reading rhythmic patterns that mix simple and compound meters
• Scale studies and technical facility across various tonalities
• Ensemble balance and intonation, especially when doubling melodic lines
• Interpretation of multiple accompaniment styles and articulation choices
• Sight-reading fluency through varied classical, world, and patriotic pieces