Curtain Up! (Complete Concert Beginning Band Vol.1): Percussion 3
Complete Concert Beginning Band Vol.1
By Brian Balmages, Timothy Loest, William Owens, Chris Sharp
Grade: 1
Item: 98-PC-DB1496_PC3
$7.00
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Description
For directors on a budget, we are pleased to offer this exciting collection of four pieces at one low price. Designed to work well as a full concert program, these pieces represent a variety of styles and composers for a well-balanced program! Titles include: Parade of the Gladiators (Owens), Ten Masters in Two Minutes (Loest), Funtango (Sharp), and Gettysburg (Balmages).
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Beginning Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1496_PC3
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber music spheres. His works have been performed globally by ensembles ranging from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school bands in halls including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, along with the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest award for Love and Light.
As a guest conductor, Balmages has led all-state and regional ensembles, university groups, and professional orchestras worldwide, with notable appearances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and various national conferences. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has been commissioned by the University of Miami and James Madison University, where he earned his degrees. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Four contrasting pieces with genuine musical substance at Grade 1 makes programming a complete concert seamless without sacrificing variety or style. The mix of march, novelty, Latin, and Americana gives every section of your band meaningful material to play, and the bundled format eliminates the nickel-and-diming of purchasing single titles separately.
What to expect
This collection spans four distinct moods in quick succession: the pageantry of a triumphant march, the playful wit of a musical patchwork, the infectious rhythm of a Latin groove, and the reflective dignity of Americana. Each piece has its own character, yet all four sit comfortably within the technical grasp of young musicians, allowing genuine musicianship to shine through.
Who it's for
Beginning band directors building their first concert repertoire and needing reliable, varied material that engages young players without overloading rehearsal time. This collection works equally well for directors introducing Grade 1 ensembles to multiple musical styles and forms.
How to get the most out of it
- Build the march energy in Parade of the Gladiators by focusing on crisp articulation and steady eighth-note pulse in the rhythm section; let the melodic sections breathe without losing forward momentum.
- Treat Ten Masters in Two Minutes as a listening game: students can spot which famous themes appear as the piece unfolds, turning rehearsal into active engagement with music history.
- Lock the Latin groove in Funtango by having your low reeds and bass clarinet lock in with the low brass on the clave feel; this foundation lets upper voices play with confidence.
- Shape Gettysburg as a hymn-like processional with gentle dynamics and legato phrasing, allowing the patriotic melody to resonate without overblowing.
How to use it
Frame these four pieces as your opening concert program, moving from march to novelty to Latin to reflective finale for a balanced arc that keeps audiences engaged. You can also extract individual selections to pair alongside other Grade 1 repertoire throughout the year, using them as confidence builders between more challenging works.
Skills your students will build
- Secure playing in unison and simple two-part textures
- Clear articulation in staccato and legato passages
- Steady quarter-note and eighth-note pulse maintenance
- Basic dynamic control across a full ensemble
- Listening to and balancing with other instrument families
- Reading and executing simple rhythmic patterns in Grade 1 time signatures