Yamaha Band Student, Book 1: Baritone B.C. Book

Feldstein and O'Reilly understood that first-year students need early success and variety to stay engaged. The inclusion of full-band arrangements alongside solo and small ensemble pieces means your entire class performs together from day one, building community and motivation when it matters most.

Fresh and purposeful. The method doesn't dwell on single-note exercises; instead, it moves quickly to short songs and familiar melodies that feel like real music-making. Students experience the satisfaction of playing in a section from the start.

Beginning baritone B.C. players in a concert band or school band program, typically in grades 6-8. This book serves students in their first year of study who benefit from clear progression, frequent performance opportunities, and carefully sequenced exercises that build confidence alongside technique.

• Use the duets and trios to pair students at similar levels, allowing faster learners to support peers while staying challenged.
• Perform the four full-band arrangements in your first concerts; they anchor the lesson material and show students why they're learning these notes.
• Rotate solo opportunities through the songs so every student has a moment in the spotlight early in the year.
• Keep the method book visible in ensemble rehearsals, not just private lessons, so students see how daily exercises connect to the music they're performing.

Work through this sequentially as your primary lesson text for beginning baritone students, using the embedded concert arrangements for your first fall or winter concerts. The duets and trios provide immediate chamber music repertoire without requiring separate purchases, and the full-band pieces integrate seamlessly into rehearsal alongside any supplemental band literature.

• Reading in bass clef with consistent accuracy
• Breath control and phrase shaping in short, musical lines
• Rhythmic accuracy in simple meters (2/4, 3/4, 4/4)
• Ensemble listening and blend in small groups and full band
• Dynamic contrast and articulation appropriate to different musical styles
• Consistent valve and embouchure coordination in the low register