Cool Breeze: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

Cool Breeze: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Cool Breeze: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49093
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Chris M. Bernotas

Grade: 1 (Easy)

Item: 00-49093

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There is nothing like sitting outside in the spring or fall, relaxing and enjoying a cool breeze! With Cool Breeze by Chris M. Bernotas students will be adding their own "coolness," as they can have the chance play a solo! Students can play the written solo (included on the Educational Pack) or make up their own! The piece offers a fantastic opportunity to help students become familiar with swing-style rhythms and harmonies. (2:25) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Cool Breeze: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Sound Innovations for Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 150

ISBN10: 1-4706-4596-3

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4596-0

UPC: 038081564340

SKU: 00-49093

More about this title

About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas

Chris M. Bernotas has spent over two decades shaping music education as both a composer and the Director of Instrumental Publications at Alfred Music. His work reaches ensembles across all levels, from beginning bands discovering their sound to advanced groups seeking repertoire that challenges and inspires.

Bernotas writes from the classroom perspective. His years teaching students directly inform every composition, giving him insight into what actually works in rehearsal and what genuinely engages young musicians. He regularly conducts clinics and guest appearances, helping directors navigate pedagogy and repertoire selection. His catalog includes the widely-adopted Sound Innovations series alongside numerous concert works, all designed to balance musical substance with realistic developmental demands.

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Why we love this

Grade 1 repertoire rarely invites genuine improvisation, yet Cool Breeze makes it central to the experience. The swing-style language and built-in solo opportunity transform a pleasant concert piece into something students remember because they contributed something personal to it. Bernotas keeps the ensemble writing accessible so every section can support an improviser without stumbling.

What to expect

Effortless and warm, like a spring afternoon where time moves differently. The swing rhythms give it subtle sophistication while the overall texture remains open and unhurried, inviting players to settle into the groove rather than strain toward precision.

Who it's for

Beginning concert bands ready to explore jazz vocabulary without abandoning classical fundamentals. Directors looking for approachable contest or festival material that gives every student a meaningful role.

How to get the most out of it

Build swing feel gradually in sectionals before running the full piece. Many young musicians need separate work on the rhythmic displacement before adding it to an ensemble sound.
If students choose to improvise the solo, establish a simple harmonic framework in rehearsal so soloists understand the progression underneath. Written example or call-and-response practice works well here.
Balance the soloist carefully in performance. The accompanying parts are light enough that a confident section member can carry a melody without overwhelming the texture.
Let rehearsal time reflect what you hear: if the swing rhythms feel mechanical, slow the tempo and isolate the rhythm section's feel first.

How to use it

Slot this into a spring or early fall concert when you want to demonstrate growth in rhythmic independence and ensemble balance. It pairs well with a traditional march or chorale, showing your band's range within one program. Strong candidate for festival play since the two-plus minute length and engaging character appeal to adjudicators.