Sound Innovations for Concert Band: Ensemble Development for Advanced Concert Band: Baritone B.C. Book

This book treats advanced baritone players as serious ensemble musicians, not as afterthoughts in the section. The 399 exercises move beyond unison drill into genuine musical challenge, and the 70 original chorales by established concert band composers like David Gillingham, Robert Sheldon, and Jack Stamp make daily rehearsal feel like programming quality literature. The key-organized structure lets you target specific intonation and articulation problems while the variety keeps rehearsals fresh across the entire season.

These exercises breathe like real music, especially the chorales by composers who understand how baritones function within the ensemble texture. You're working on technique, yes, but through phrases that resonate, harmonies that resolve with purpose, and compositional voice-leading that teaches musicianship organically.

Advanced concert band baritone players who are ready to move beyond basic exercise collections into genuine musicianship work. This book serves equally well in section rehearsals, private lessons, and full ensemble warm-ups, making it essential for directors working with experienced students aiming for college auditions or all-state levels.

• Lock the harmonic tuning by having baritones anchor the chord progression alongside trombones and lower woodwinds; use the chorales as harmonic reference points rather than standalone melodies.
• Approach the exercises grouped by key as intonation studies first, musical expression second. Advanced students notice immediately when the chord doesn't breathe.
• Rotate which baritone voices lead the unison passages to build ownership across the section and expose intonation blind spots.
• Use the provided variety within each category to address the same technical goal from multiple angles in a single rehearsal, then return to the strongest version for polish.

Build weekly rehearsal schedules around one key area per session, rotating between technical and musical chorales to balance mechanical growth with expressive development. The organized structure also makes this invaluable for sectional coaching during concert preparation, letting you isolate intonation or balance issues before bringing the band back together.

• Reading and performing in multiple keys with secure intonation
• Harmonic function and chord awareness in ensemble context
• Sustained tone quality and breath control at varied dynamic levels
• Articulation clarity and consistency with section partners
• Transitioning smoothly between legato and marked articulation styles
• Sight-reading fluency across intermediate to advanced repertoire