Chorales and Beyond-Baritone BC: Baritone BC Method Book

The structure of this method gives you genuine flexibility within your daily warm-up routine. Rather than a rigid sequence, the three cycles within each key center allow you to rotate freshly through the same fundamentals without repetitive monotony, which keeps students engaged and actually listening to their sound. Kevin Lepper's percussion writing transforms what could be a functional warm-up book into something with real musicality.

This method balances precision work with genuine musical satisfaction. The daily routines feel purposeful rather than rote, moving from pure technical focus through pitch matching and intervallic accuracy into the harmonic richness of four-part chorales. There's a sense of progression and accomplishment built into each cycle.

Baritone players in concert band programs of all levels will find this essential for building fundamental technique and musicianship. Whether you're establishing consistent warm-up protocols or revitalizing your sectional rehearsal time, this book provides a structured yet flexible framework that works for middle school through adult ensembles.

• Start with the long tones and pitch matching exercises early in rehearsal when your section's ears are sharpest, then move into the more complex choral material as muscles warm and mental focus builds.
• Rotate through the three cycles in each key center across your week rather than completing all three in one day; this keeps the routine fresh and prevents fatigue from repetitive patterns.
• Pay close attention to the four-part harmony writing in the chorales, even as a baritone section; understanding how your part relates to the full voicing improves intonation and blend with the rest of the ensemble.
• Engage actively with the vibrant percussion parts throughout the exercises; the rhythmic and dynamic interaction between winds and percussion sharpens ensemble communication.

Use this as your primary sectional warm-up resource, cycling through different key centers across your rehearsal week to maintain variety while systematically addressing all fundamental areas. The chorales work equally well as standalone pieces for sectional performance or as the foundation for full-band warm-up routines that incorporate all voices.

• Breath control and sustained long tone production
• Pitch matching and intonation in ensemble contexts
• Interval recognition and accuracy across registers
• Scale fluency in 10 major and minor keys
• Arpeggio and chord construction reading
• Four-part harmonic awareness and blend
• Rhythmic precision with ensemble percussion
• Vibrato control and musicality