Kitchen Musicians: E-flat Alto Saxophone
A Tasty Treat for Concert Band with Pots and Pans
By Scott Watson
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0018542_AX1
$3.00
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Description
Cooked up with instruments found in the kitchen, this lively tune features members of the percussion section performing on pots and pans. To lend a theatrical flair, dress your Kitchen Musician percussionists as chefs for the performance, and serve up the perfect recipe for a tasty, entertaining musical treat! Correlated to Sound Innovations, Book 1, Level 3. (1:50) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Kitchen Musicians: E-flat Alto Saxophone comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
132
SKU:
00-PC-0018542_AX1
More about this title
About the Composer: Scott Watson
Scott Watson has spent four decades shaping young musicians, first as a high school band director and later as elementary strings coordinator in the Parkland School District near Allentown, Pennsylvania. His transition to university teaching at Cairn University and his prolific output as a composer reflect a career built on deep classroom experience. Over 120 published works across concert band, string orchestra, and chamber music demonstrate his fluency in writing for student ensembles without sacrificing musical integrity.
Watson's voice draws equally from the concert music world and the band director's daily reality. His pieces have been performed at major venues including the White House and the Midwest Clinic, and he serves as an exclusive composer for Alfred Publications' Sound Innovations series. Beyond composing, Watson contributes to the field as a clinician, guest conductor, and author of the music education text Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity (Oxford University Press).
Why we love this
This piece captures something rarely accomplished at this level: genuine entertainment value paired with legitimate ensemble work. The conceit is memorable enough that students will talk about it before rehearsal even starts, yet the writing itself respects young players' abilities to handle rhythmic clarity and ensemble balance. Having your percussion section transform into chefs brings theater into the bandroom without requiring elaborate staging.
What to expect
Bright, whimsical, and playful. Kitchen Musicians bounces along with the energy of a comedic cooking show, where pots clanging and pans ringing become percussion colors that delight audiences. It's the kind of piece that makes students grin as they perform.
Who it's for
This works best for beginning concert bands working through Sound Innovations Book 1 material. The very easy grade designation and short duration (1:50) make it accessible for middle school ensembles still developing ensemble cohesion and independent part reading.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish clear hand signals for the percussion section before adding the full band. Pot and pan sounds vary in pitch and tone quality, so visual communication keeps Kitchen Musicians locked together.
- Let the kitchen percussion find their tone by experimenting with different mallets and striking surfaces during sectional rehearsals. A softer mallet produces a warmer ring than a hard striker.
- Balance the theatrical elements with musical accuracy. The novelty serves the music only when rhythms are precise and entries are clean.
How to use it
Program this early in the concert or as part of a family matinee to set a relaxed, entertaining tone. It pairs well with other accessible fare and gives your percussion section a spotlight moment that builds confidence before tackling more substantial repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Clear articulation and rhythmic precision in a rhythmically driven context
- Ensemble listening and balance when non-pitched percussion becomes the primary color
- Confidence performing with non-traditional instruments and unconventional timbres
- Stage presence and theatrical awareness in a musical performance