John Kinyon's Basic Training Course, Book 2: Baritone B.C. Book

Kinyon's approach works because it treats baritone players as real musicians from day one, not afterthoughts. The book's flexibility across solo study, sectional rehearsal, and full ensemble settings means you're not buying separate materials for different instructional scenarios. Each exercise builds genuine foundation skills rather than busywork, making progress visible and motivating for brass students who often feel neglected in beginning band settings.

Structured and purposeful. Every exercise has a clear job, building confidence in young baritones as they discover their low register and learn to balance intonation across different harmonic contexts. The progressive nature keeps engagement steady without sudden jumps in difficulty.

Beginning baritone players working through their second year of study, whether in a full band setting, sectional brass class, or private lessons. Directors implementing the Kinyon method across their entire program will use this book to maintain consistency in tone production, rhythm reading, and musical phrasing. Students transitioning from Book 1 benefit from the systematic expansion of range, valve combinations, and ensemble awareness.

• Encourage consistent air stream and open throat position while working through exercises; Kinyon's progressions assume steady breath support from the start
• Use the recorded accompaniments (sold separately) during sectional work to help baritones lock their entrances and balance within the ensemble sound
• Mark challenging intervals or rhythmic figures in pencil during the first pass, then isolate those measures in the next practice session rather than running full exercises repeatedly
• Address posture and instrument angle early; baritones holding the horn correctly from Book 2 onward develop cleaner intonation and endurance

Assign Book 2 to your developing baritone section during your second semester or year of instruction, running 3 to 5 pages per week in sectionals alongside full ensemble rehearsals. The book's systematic approach to range, rhythm, and intonation provides direct support for whatever concert repertoire your beginning band is tackling. Many directors pair it with Kinyon's full band arrangements, creating a cohesive pedagogical experience across both method work and performance literature.

• Valve coordination and alternate fingerings for common intervals
• Reading in bass clef across an expanding range
• Rhythmic accuracy in mixed meters and dotted note patterns
• Breath support and steady air stream for sustained tones
• Ensemble intonation and balance within brass sections
• Musical phrasing and dynamic control