Mountain Songs: 1st Trombone
By Mark Williams
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0001231_TN1
$3.00
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Description
Enjoy some mountain scenery with this solid arrangement that features the songs "On Top of Old Smoky" and "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" in true country style. Students and audiences will enjoy this knee-slapping, toe-tapping piece of Americana.
Correlates with Accent on Achievement Book 1, page 33. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Correlates with Accent on Achievement Book 1, page 33. 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, Mountain Songs: 1st Trombone 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:
Accent on Achievement
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
63
SKU:
00-PC-0001231_TN1
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Williams
Mark Williams shaped school band education through both pedagogy and composition. As co-author of the Accent on Achievement Band Method and author of over 200 published works, he established himself as a leading voice in accessible band literature. His influence extended beyond the page: he served as clinician and guest conductor across 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia, bringing his philosophy of musicality and engagement to thousands of students.
Williams' background combined rigorous training with hands-on teaching experience. He earned degrees in education from Eastern Washington University and spent years teaching elementary band in Washington schools, giving him direct insight into what works in the rehearsal room. His work as a woodwind performer and arranger for the 560th Air Force Band, along with his role as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band, kept him connected to live performance throughout his career. His compositions and arrangements earned recognition including the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards.
Why we love this
Williams captures the energy of folk material without sacrificing musicality or ensemble balance. At grade 1.5, this arrangement delivers genuine Americana character while keeping all sections engaged and playable. The direct correlation to Accent on Achievement Book 1 makes it a natural fit for ensembles working through that curriculum, turning a method page into a polished performance piece.
What to expect
Mountain air, wide open spaces, and good humor. The arrangement embodies American folk tradition with straightforward melodies that sing through the band, rhythmic energy that makes audiences smile, and an infectious quality that transforms simple tunes into celebratory concert moments.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves young concert bands ready to tackle recognizable repertoire with style and confidence. Students in beginning band programs will connect immediately with these folk standards, and the grade 1.5 difficulty keeps the focus on musicianship rather than technical struggle. Directors seeking a festival or contest piece that audiences recognize and enjoy will find a strong choice here.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melodic lines with clear phrasing rather than mechanical articulation; these folk tunes thrive on natural breathing and storytelling.
- Balance the ensemble so the familiar melodies remain prominent without drowning out the supporting parts, especially in the mixed sections.
- Encourage rhythmic precision in the accompaniment figures; the 'knee-slapping' energy depends on tight rhythmic cohesion beneath the melody.
- Let the contrasting sections breathe as distinct ideas; the arrangement likely shifts between the two tunes, so mark those transitions clearly in rehearsal.
How to use it
Use this alongside other folk or Americana selections to create a thematic concert section that appeals broadly to family audiences. It works equally well as a festival contest entry where accessibility and audience appeal matter, or as a mid-program piece that shifts the emotional temperature of a concert. The direct correlation to Accent on Achievement Book 1 makes it ideal for programming during that unit of study.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in ensemble texture
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in repetitive figures
- Shaping folk melodies with expressive phrasing
- Reading and performing in mixed ensemble sections