Fun with Fundamentals: Conductor (Piano) Book

$19.95 USD

Fun with Fundamentals: Conductor (Piano) Book

Name: Fun with Fundamentals: Conductor (Piano) Book
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-FDL00073
Price: 19.95 USD
Availability: InStock

By Bill Laas and Fred Weber

Item: 00-FDL00073

$19.95

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Fun with Fundamentals is a supplementary band book based primarily on scales, technic studies, and "companion etudes" (duets) using the keys and fundamentals of instrumental playing encountered at the elementary level. The primary purpose of this book is to develop fluency of technic, accurate counting, musical style, and self-assurance through the use of additional practice material presented in a manner which should prove to be interesting, enjoyable, and highly profitable to the young player.

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Series: First Division Band Course

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 84

ISBN10: 0-7692-2517-9

ISBN13: 978-0-7692-2517-3

UPC: 029156633351

SKU: 00-FDL00073

Instrumentation: Conductor (Piano)

More about this title

About the Author: Bill Laas

Bill Laas understood that young band students need more than solo repertoire to develop genuine musicianship. His work with the First Division Band Course positioned him to create supplementary material that addressed the real technical gaps emerging musicians face. Laas designed this book to bridge the gap between method book exercises and ensemble performance.

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Why we love this

This conductor book gives you a structured, predictable foundation for rehearsals without sacrificing musicality. The companion etudes and duets keep young players engaged while building the technical fluency that elementary bands desperately need, and the piano reduction lets you set tempos, demonstrate phrasing, and respond to what your ensemble actually needs on any given day.

What to expect

Purposeful and encouraging. These aren't exercises that feel like punishment; they're designed to feel like real music-making from the start. The duet format gives students a partner and a steady anchor, making even scale work feel collaborative rather than clinical.

Who it's for

Band directors working with elementary students who need systematic technical reinforcement without boring the room. If your band is building counting accuracy, scale fluency, and confidence in their fundamentals, this supplementary book delivers the repetition and variety they need.

How to get the most out of it

Use the duet format to isolate specific sections and diagnose intonation issues; pairing individual players with the piano part reveals who needs extra support.
Establish a steady tempo early in each scale or study, then vary it in your next rehearsal to build flexibility and confidence at multiple speeds.
Play the companion etudes with the same attention to articulation and style you expect from the band; your sound at the keyboard sets the standard.
Rotate which sections take the melody in duets to reinforce part independence and keep every player's attention focused.

How to use it

Integrate these studies into the first half of rehearsal when players' minds are freshest and the room is warmest. The scales work well as a foundation before tackling a more complex concert arrangement, and the companion etudes can replace traditional warm-up rotations when you need diagnostic information about individual players.