Cool Breeze: Score
By Chris M. Bernotas
Grade: 1 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0006866
$8.00
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Description
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: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
150
SKU:
00-PR-0006866
More about this title
About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas
Chris M. Bernotas brings over 25 years of music education experience to his work as a composer and conductor. As Director of Instrumental Publications at Alfred Music, he has shaped band and orchestra curricula used by educators worldwide, drawing on his deep understanding of what students and teachers actually need in the rehearsal room.
Bernotas's gift lies in balancing musical substance with genuine accessibility. His works span from introductory concert pieces to more sophisticated arrangements, all informed by classroom experience and frequent guest conducting engagements. He has co-authored multiple resources including the Sound Innovations series, Sound Artistry, and Sound Performance, positioning himself as both a creator of repertoire and a developer of educational tools. His compositions consistently appear in contest and festival programs, reflecting their appeal across diverse ensemble levels.
Why we love this
Cool Breeze nails the balance between approachability and genuine musical learning. A Grade 1 piece that teaches swing rhythms and harmonic vocabulary without feeling like an exercise, plus the flexibility to feature student soloists (written or improvised) gives your ensemble real ownership of the sound. At under 2.5 minutes, it programs beautifully and leaves audiences smiling.
What to expect
Sunlight filtering through leaves, unhurried but alive. The piece settles into a relaxed groove while maintaining genuine musicality, with a spring or autumn breeze as its quiet backdrop. There's lightness here, but also sophistication in the harmonic colors and rhythmic swing.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands and beginning ensembles ready to explore beyond straight-eighth rhythms. Directors seeking a short, engaging piece that introduces swing style without overwhelm and gives students a taste of improvisation.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the swing feel in sectional rehearsals before putting the full band together; have students listen to recorded examples of swing eighth-notes so they hear the lilt rather than trying to describe it verbally.
- If students are improvising their solo, set clear structural boundaries (number of choruses, harmonic progression, range limits) so they stay grounded rather than feeling lost.
- Balance the warmth of the melody with clarity in the rhythm section; avoid letting the piece drag, even though it's conceptually 'relaxed.'
- Let the soloist sit in the chair for rehearsals leading up to the performance so they build confidence and the ensemble locks in around them.
How to use it
Perfect for a spring or early fall concert where you want a palate cleanser between heavier works, or as an opener that signals to the audience they're in for something accessible and fun. Use it as a bridge into other swing-influenced or light contemporary literature as your ensemble gains confidence.
Skills your students will build
- Swing eighth-note rhythm and feel
- Solo improvisation (optional melodic ideas over given harmonic structure)
- Reading and performing swing-inflected harmonic progressions
- Listening and responding to ensemble balance in a rubato-friendly context
- Musical phrasing and interpretation in a contemporary light-concert idiom