Unleashed!: 1st Trombone
By Michael Kamuf
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PC-0019343_TN1
$3.00
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Description
Unleashed is a powerful new work by Michael Kamuf featuring bold melodies and driving rhythms. The first five notes of the D Phrygian mode are employed throughout the piece, creating an opportunity to introduce modes to your beginning band. It is sure to be a favorite of your students and audience! (1:45)
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
- Assignment, recording, and assessment tools within MakeMusic Cloud
- Piece-specific exercises focused on skills and techniques
- Educational tips and suggestions to support learning
Available in print and digital formats.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Unleashed!: 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:
Belwin Concert Band - PerformancePlus+
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019343_TN1
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Kamuf
Michael Kamuf earned Bachelor of Music degrees in Jazz Performance and Music Education from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University and a Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by prestigious ensembles including the Woody Herman and Glenn Miller Orchestras, the USAF Airmen of Note, the US Navy Commodores, and soloists such as James Moody, Eddie Daniels, and Sean Jones. He is an exclusive writer for the Belwin Division of Alfred Music Publishing, with over 100 publications in print across jazz, orchestra, and concert band catalogs.
Kamuf began teaching instrumental music in 1991 and spent thirty years with Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools, serving twenty-seven of those years as Director of Bands and Orchestras and Music Department Chairperson at John T. Baker Middle School. Under his leadership, the Baker ensembles earned consistent high ratings at music festivals and commissioned multiple works for young concert bands. He currently leads the Mike Kamuf Little Big Band, a jazz octet based in the Baltimore and Washington, DC region.
Why we love this
Kamuf crafts an accessible entry point to modal writing without sacrificing musical substance. The repetition of the D Phrygian mode's first five notes becomes a structural anchor rather than a limitation, allowing beginners to build confidence while learning a concept that opens doors to more sophisticated harmonic thinking. Students and audiences alike respond to the driving energy and clear melodic identity here.
What to expect
Unleashed captures the energy of a band breaking free, propelled by driving rhythms and bold melodic declarations. The D Phrygian mode lends an exotic, slightly edgy quality that keeps the piece from sounding merely pleasant. Student musicians feel the power in their hands as soon as they start rehearsing.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands ready to tackle Grade 1 repertoire with character and musical substance. This work suits ensembles seeking approachable festival material that introduces meaningful pedagogical concepts without overwhelming inexperienced players.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythmic drive in your low brass and woodwind section first. The piece depends on consistent pulse, so isolate the foundational rhythm patterns before layering in the melodic material.
- Balance the D Phrygian melody across your ensemble so the modal color projects clearly. Even at Grade 1, students need to hear how the first five notes of that scale create a distinctive sound.
- Use the PerformancePlus+ exercises to target articulation and style consistency. Bold melodies sound bold only when every section shapes the notes the same way.
- Record your rehearsals and listen back with students to assess where rhythmic precision breaks down. This habit builds ensemble awareness and gives them ownership of the performance.
How to use it
Open a festival program with this piece to set a high-energy tone and demonstrate your ensemble's confidence. The 1:45 duration and Grade 1 accessibility make it an ideal opener that leaves audiences energized and your band ready for the next selection. It also works effectively as the closing contest selection when you want to send judges and listeners out on a strong, modern note.
Skills your students will build
- Recognition and performance of modal melody using the first five notes of D Phrygian
- Rhythmic precision in driving, syncopated patterns
- Ensemble balance and blend across melody and accompaniment layers
- Articulation control for bold melodic expression at Grade 1 level