First Division Band Method, Part 3: Bells Book

Part 3 maintains the proven instructional architecture that has worked for over a decade while reflecting current classroom needs through updated correlations and refreshed design. Directors trust this method because it builds instrument-specific skills in bells with the same methodical progression that supports success across your entire band.

Clear, focused, and methodical. The material unfolds logically without overwhelming students, allowing them to develop technical security and musical confidence on bells as they work through carefully graded exercises and melodies.

Beginning bells students in concert band settings who benefit from a systematic, time-tested introduction to the instrument. Directors building percussion sections will find this part essential for students progressing through the First Division Band Course sequence.

• Establish consistent mallet grip and control early; bells demand precision that carries over to mallets in other percussion work.
• Balance dynamic development with technical accuracy, as bells require both sensitivity to tone production and careful attention to pitch clarity.
• Use the book's sequenced exercises to build independence between hands before advancing to more complex passage work.

Implement Part 3 as the primary text for bells students during their intermediate year in the band program, pairing it with full-band rehearsals where they apply newly developed skills to ensemble settings. This creates a natural progression from Part 2 while preparing students for the independence required in concert band literature.

• Mallet control and consistent striking technique
• Reading and executing melodic passages on bells
• Hand independence and coordination
• Dynamic control and tone awareness on pitched percussion
• Rhythmic accuracy in concert band contexts