First Division Band Method, Part 3: Baritone (T.C.) Book

This part book delivers what has made First Division Band Method the standard for generations: a logical progression that doesn't skip steps, allowing baritone players to build confidence alongside their section mates. The updated edition retains the proven musical sequences while refreshing the presentation, so you get a trusted curriculum in a modern format.

Opening this book, you immediately sense structure and purpose. Each page builds logically on what came before, offering clear rhythmic and melodic exercises that reward careful practice. The familiar songs and exercises create a sense of progress; students notice themselves reading faster, tonguing more precisely, and playing with greater ease.

Beginning baritone players working through a sequential band curriculum. This part book is designed for use in school band programs where all sections follow the same method simultaneously, ensuring balanced ensemble development from the start.

• Balance your tone with the lower brass section by listening carefully to the tubas and trombones; the baritone bridges these voices, so your intonation anchors the whole group.
• Work through the progressive exercises in the order presented; skipping ahead creates gaps in embouchure strength and finger coordination that become obvious in later passages.
• Use a tuner during individual practice to develop consistent pitch stability in the middle and upper register, where baritone intonation demands the most attention.

Use this part book as your core curriculum for beginning baritone players in your first-year band or concert band. The sequential nature means all sections advance together, creating unified bands that sound cohesive because every player has learned from the same pedagogical foundation.

• Reading whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes in various time signatures
• Valve coordination and fingering patterns specific to baritone
• Breath support and controlled air flow for sustained notes
• Section blend and balance with lower brass voices
• Proper embouchure formation and tone production
• Counting and steady rhythm in simple and compound meters