New Orleans Strut: 1st B-flat Clarinet
By Mark Williams
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0000624_C1
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Take a trip to the "Big Easy" with New Orleans Strut. Even very young bands will get into the groove of this piece, and the low brass and woodwinds will enjoy playing the hint of "The Saints" hidden in their parts. This Dixieland Jazz inspired piece is sure to be a favorite with young bands and their audiences alike. Correlates to Accent on Achievement, Book 1, page 19. (2:30) 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, New Orleans Strut: 1st B-flat Clarinet 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:
124
SKU:
00-PC-0000624_C1
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Williams
Mark Williams built his reputation as a composer of accessible, engaging music for young ensembles. His work with the Accent on Achievement Band Method shaped how thousands of students encounter band literature, and his 200+ published compositions reflect a deep understanding of what young musicians can accomplish at each developmental level. Williams spent much of his career teaching elementary band in Washington state, experience that informed every note he wrote for school groups.
Beyond composition, Williams was a dedicated clinician and conductor who traveled across North America and Australia sharing his expertise. He performed professionally on bassoon and served as conductor of the Spokane British Brass Band while maintaining an active schedule as guest conductor in schools. His contributions to music education earned recognition through the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards.
Why we love this
New Orleans Strut succeeds because it meets Grade 1 students where they actually are. The groove is infectious enough to hold audience attention while the hidden quotation from "The Saints" gives your low brass and reeds a musical detail worth discovering and sharing during rehearsal. You get real jazz style without compromising the fundamental technique your youngest players are still building.
What to expect
The piece captures the easy swagger of New Orleans street brass, translated into something a very young band can swing into with confidence. It bounces along with harmonic warmth and genuine humor, pulling the audience into that "Big Easy" feeling without pretense or complexity.
Who it's for
Grade 1 bands encountering jazz style for the first time will gravitate toward this piece naturally. Conductors building programs that balance fundamentals with repertoire students actually want to play will find New Orleans Strut fills that need without lowering musical expectations.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo steady and infectious. Young bands will want to rush the groove, so anchor the pulse in your conducting and encourage the rhythm section to lock in early.
- Balance the "Saints" reference so it reads as playful recognition rather than obvious quotation. Let your woodwinds and low brass enjoy the moment without overshadowing the main melodic material.
- Shape the contrasting sections with clear dynamic contrast. Young bands often default to one dynamic level, so mark your score to show where the energy builds and settles.
- Give your percussion section specific roles and let them own the groove. Even simple parts gain energy when students understand they're driving the Dixieland feel.
How to use it
Schedule this early in the concert year when your Grade 1 musicians need something celebratory after mastering fundamentals. Pair it with other concert band classics to show students that jazz style belongs on formal programs. Its 2:30 length makes it ideal for youth concerts, pep band appearances, or that moment when you want an instant crowd connection.
Skills your students will build
- Swing rhythms and jazz articulation
- Listening to harmonic movement in jazz voicings
- Maintaining groove while balancing individual parts
- Dynamic control and phrasing in a style context
- Recognizing quoted material within original compositions