Movie Trios for All: B-flat Trumpet, Baritone T.C. Book

Story's arrangements strike a rare balance: instantly recognizable film themes that engage audiences while offering three distinct difficulty levels on every page, meaning a mixed trio of Grade 1 and Grade 3 players can sit down together and make music that sounds complete and polished. The flexible instrumentation removes logistics entirely from your planning, and the sheer variety of repertoire means you'll actually want to work through the entire book.

Sitting down with these arrangements feels like stepping into a film soundtrack. Each piece carries the emotional weight and memorable melody of its source material, whether you're playing the soaring heroism of the Raiders March, the playful charm of You've Got a Friend in Me, or the iconic drama of the James Bond Theme. The flexibility means everyone plays a line that matches their current abilities, so the ensemble as a whole achieves a cohesive, confident sound.

Brass teachers and directors leading heterogeneous ensembles where skill levels vary significantly. This book also serves advanced students looking for flexible recital options and younger or less experienced players who want to experience the satisfaction of performing recognizable movie music alongside more accomplished musicians.

• Balance the three parts by checking them against each other before rehearsal; because each line stands at a different difficulty level, the easier parts risk getting swallowed unless you establish clear dynamic relationships early.
• Treat the film themes as your teaching tool for phrasing and character, not just the notes; these arrangements lean heavily on melody recognition, so shape each line as audiences would hear it in the original score.
• Use separate rehearsals or sectional work strategically if your trio members are more than one grade level apart, giving the advancing players a chance to tackle their technical demands while the other parts remain secure.

Program individual selections as interludes between longer ensemble works, or sequence several arrangements together to create a stand-alone movie music concert. These also work beautifully in informal recital settings where mixed-level brass students perform together, and they're ideal repertoire for community concerts or school holiday programs where family attendance is expected.

• Melodic phrasing from film and popular sources
• Flexible ensemble balance across mixed ability levels
• Reading within grade-appropriate ranges while performing alongside more advanced players
• Recognition of rhythmic and harmonic structures in well-known themes
• Sustained intonation and expression on recognizable material