Belwin Beginning Band, Book One (featuring the works of Michael Story): Trombone/Baritone/Bassoon/Tuba Book

Story's direct communication with your students transforms a collection of exercises into a masterclass. Hearing the composer explain his own musical choices and intent creates immediate investment in the music; students aren't just playing notes, they're learning from the source. The variety of styles and moods across these eleven pieces keeps rehearsals fresh while building technique systematically.

From the bold swagger of Silverado to the tender Japanese elegance of Sakura, these pieces showcase Story's range across folk traditions, American themes, and original compositions. The music feels purposeful and crafted rather than merely pedagogical; even at the beginning level, students sense they're playing real music with cultural or historical weight.

This book serves lower brass players in beginning bands who need repertoire that balances foundational technique with genuine musical engagement. Directors building curriculum around Story's works will find these eleven pieces ideal for introducing students to diverse musical styles within their technical grasp.

• Listen to Story's recorded comments before rehearsing each piece so you can reference his specific musical priorities during sectional work.
• Use the program notes provided for the audience to help students understand the cultural or historical context of pieces like Sakura and Fantasy on Chester, which deepens their interpretation.
• Balance the march and fanfare styles with the more lyrical pieces when planning sectional rehearsals to work different muscle groups and articulation approaches throughout the week.
• Assign the lower brass (trombone, baritone, bassoon, tuba) independent melodic passages to build confidence before full ensemble rehearsals.

These titles work beautifully as individual concert selections throughout the year rather than as a single performance unit. Sakura and Carnival in Rio fit spring concerts; Roman Fanfare and Battle Creek March suit patriotic programming; Christmas Bits and Pieces closes the December calendar. Spacing these pieces across multiple concerts maintains student momentum while giving each title the rehearsal time it deserves.

• Intonation tuning in four-part harmonic writing
• Articulation control across styles (march, fanfare, lyrical, dance)
• Reading a variety of time signatures and rhythmic patterns
• Balancing part independence with ensemble blend
• Musical interpretation beyond printed dynamics and tempos
• Confidence in melodic passages for lower brass