Belwin 21st Century Band Method, Level 2: Keyboard Percussion Book

This Level 2 book strikes an effective balance between fundamental skill development and genuinely playable repertoire. The pairing of standard songs (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sleigh Ride, Star Wars) alongside commissioned concert works gives students real motivation to practice scales and rhythm while building musicianship beyond exercises. The dual percussion layout (snare and auxiliary on left pages, keyboard percussion on right) keeps both percussion families integrated in band method study, preventing keyboard percussion from feeling isolated at this critical early stage.

A blend of workshop and stage rehearsal. Students spend time building mallet control and reading mixed rhythms through focused exercises, then immediately apply those skills to accessible songs they may recognize from film, television, and holiday traditions. The commissioned concert pieces introduce a sense of serious artistry alongside the familiarity of popular standards.

Keyboard percussion students in second-year band programs who need a structured yet engaging foundation in mallet technique, range expansion, and ensemble reading. This book works best for students ages 11-13 who have completed Level 1 and are ready to tackle more complex rhythms and concert repertoire without overwhelming technical demands.

• Explore the multiple accompaniment styles available through MakeMusic Cloud. Switching between swing, rock, and traditional ballad versions of the same piece teaches students how arrangement choices affect interpretation and keeps rehearsals fresh.
• Lock in the ensemble sound by starting each rehearsal with a scale study or rhythmic exercise from the book, then moving to a familiar song; this routine builds reading fluency without disconnecting technique from musical context.
• Use the commissioned pieces (Celtic Air and Dance, Destiny) as performance benchmarks. Program them early in the year when the band has rehearsed them thoroughly, then revisit them later as confidence indicators of progress.
• Record short segments of popular standards on the accompaniment CD and have students listen independently. Familiarity with the recorded versions helps them anticipate phrasing and builds ear training alongside their playing.

Integrate this throughout the band's regular rehearsal cycle for the school year, using the popular standards to build concert programming bridges (Sleigh Ride and The Little Drummer Boy work naturally in holiday concerts). The commissioned pieces serve as festival or spring concert anchors once the band has solidified fundamentals by midyear.

• Reading expanded range on keyboard percussion staves
• Mallet control across dynamic, tempo, and articulation changes
• Mixed meter and syncopated rhythm reading
• Ensemble listening and balancing with pitched and unpitched percussion
• Sight-reading fluency in concert band contexts