Belwin Beginning Band Kit #1: Concert Band Conductor Score

A satisfying blend of storytelling, skill-building, and tradition. Bullock's descriptive writing creates vivid imagery, Davison's clarinet feature gives the section a moment to shine, Cook's arrangement honors a national treasure without overcomplicating it, and Burns' march has the snap of celebration. Together they form a concert that feels complete.

Beginning band directors running their first or second concert season. This kit serves directors who need four quality pieces ready to go without coordinating multiple orders or managing different page layouts across parts. It's ideal for programs where rehearsal time is limited and you want maximum musicality with minimum logistical overhead.

• Balance the tutti sections carefully so that less experienced players (particularly younger brass) aren't buried by the clarinet feature in Davison's piece.
• Lock down the march tempo before the concert. Burns' "As the Clock Strikes" needs rhythmic precision to land its character, and it sets the tone for how tight your ensemble can be.
• Prepare the Cook arrangement of "America the Beautiful" without relying on familiarity to carry it. Grade 1 bands often underwork this piece; mark in individual dynamic shapes and phrase breathes so it doesn't flatten.
• Use Bullock's "Mount St. Helens" to teach program notes. A quick story about the eruption and how the music depicts it will engage your audience and give students context for the descriptive elements they're playing.

Open your fall concert with the march to establish energy and confidence. Follow with "Mount St. Helens" to shift the mood and show your audience that your beginners can handle lyrical, expressive playing. Feature the clarinets mid-program, then close with "America the Beautiful" for a rousing, familiar finish. Alternatively, use individual pieces across multiple programs to spread rehearsal focus and let each title breathe in different concert contexts.

• Reading and executing two-part student arrangements
• Balancing melody and harmony in full ensemble textures
• Sustaining long tones with consistent dynamics
• Playing characteristic rhythms in march meter (2/4)
• Responding to section-specific features and solo responsibilities
• Interpreting descriptive or programmatic content through musical shape