Belwin 21st Century Band Method, Level 3: B-flat Cornet (Trumpet) Book

This third level maintains pedagogical momentum without losing the fun factor that keeps students engaged. Bullock and Maiello structure each unit around a new key signature, building systematic harmonic literacy while the performance opportunities after every other unit give students real reasons to work toward mastery. The inclusion of swing rhythms, mixed meters, and syncopated patterns prepares students for the musical flexibility they'll need in high school and beyond, all while they're learning "The Magnificent Seven" and "Take Five."

The third level feels like stepping into the wider world of music. Standard classical repertoire sits alongside jazz standards and popular arrangements, rock-influenced pieces mix with folk music from multiple cultures, and the rhythmic vocabulary expands to include swing and syncopation. Students encounter music that sounds contemporary and relevant to them while building musicianship grounded in tradition.

This book is designed for trumpet and cornet players completing a three-year band method curriculum, typically in grades 5-7. Students using this level have moved beyond fundamental fingering and basic rhythms and are ready to tackle harmonic concepts, style variations, and ensemble confidence.

• Balance your tone across different key signatures by listening carefully to intonation during the scale and arpeggio work at the start of each unit. Establishing consistent pitch before moving into mixed-key passages prevents drifting.
• Approach the syncopated rhythms by isolating them at a slow tempo, tapping the pattern while singing the melody. Once the rhythm sits in your body, speed gradually increases smoothly.
• When playing swing-style passages, let the triplet feel sit naturally rather than rushing it. The bounce comes from relaxation, not tension.
• In the Duet Plus and solo with band accompaniment sections, mark your entrances and test them against the ensemble parts to ensure your balance sits well in the overall sound.

Use this book as the core curriculum for advancing band students in year three of their instrumental study, working through all eight units across the academic year. The built-in performance opportunities create natural concert programming points: shorter pieces after Units 2, 4, and 6; the two commissioned full band pieces by Strommen and Story after Unit 8 provide substantial concert closers that showcase what students have accomplished across the full three-year cycle.

• Reading multiple major and minor key signatures (up to four sharps and flats)
• Performing mixed meter pieces (combining meters like 3/4 and 4/4 in single compositions)
• Executing swing rhythms and syncopated patterns with proper feel
• Changing keys smoothly within pieces and exercises
• Playing in a variety of musical styles: classical, jazz, rock, folk, and contemporary
• Sight-reading advanced rhythmic figures and melodic passages
• Ensemble balance and intonation across changing harmonic contexts