Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 1, Second Edition: Baritone B.C. Book & Online Media

This method book was built on input from thousands of teachers, and it shows in every detail. The page layouts are genuinely clean and uncluttered, the skill progression moves at a realistic pace without gaps, and the material reflects what baritone players actually need to learn. The integration of SI Online transforms what could be a standard workbook into a living resource that grows with your program.

Clean and purposeful. Every page has a reason; there is no filler or busywork. As a baritone player, you will encounter a range of musical styles and contexts that keep your ear engaged while your fundamentals solidify. The progression respects your intelligence as a learner even while you are still mastering the basics.

Beginning baritone players in concert band, from their first day through the completion of foundational skills. The book works equally well for middle school students starting band and for older students joining the ensemble later. Teachers benefit from the built-in pacing structure and the flexibility to differentiate instruction using the supplemental PDFs.

• Start with the online tuning tracks to establish pitch awareness before tackling exercises; the accompaniment tools make it easy to match intonation in context rather than in isolation.
• Use the slowed-down accompaniment feature on rhythm pages and chorales to lock in reading accuracy before moving to tempo.
• Reference the instrument-specific instructional videos when a student struggles with a fingering or embouchure concept; seeing it modeled on baritone removes guesswork.
• Loop sections that trip up your ensemble (passages with accidentals, register shifts, dynamic changes) so students hear themselves correcting the same material across multiple attempts.

Use Book 1 as your primary method for the first year of concert band, working through the six levels at a pace that matches your ensemble's growth. Assign supplemental worksheets from SI Online during sectional rehearsals or as homework for students who need extra reinforcement or early enrichment. When you reach Book 2, your students will have the literacy and confidence to handle more complex repertoire.

• Reading treble clef with confidence and fluency
• Concert D as a starting pitch and navigating extended range above and below
• Rhythmic reading in simple meters with clear notation and counting support
• Breath control and phrasing in musical contexts, not just exercises
• Intonation awareness through accompaniment-based practice
• Dynamic shading and articulation as expressive tools
• Transposition and key signature recognition
• Ensemble balance and listening to other voices in the band