Yamaha Band Student, Book 2: Baritone T.C. Book

Feldstein and O'Reilly built this method around what actually works in the rehearsal room: a pace that doesn't overwhelm, musical material worth playing, and performance opportunities embedded in every section. Your baritone players won't feel sidelined waiting for the "real" music to start.

The material feels purposeful without being overly demanding. You're learning real musicianship through songs that sound complete and rewarding when played together, not just exercises masquerading as music.

Beginning band baritone players moving through their second year of study. This book assumes foundational note-reading and instrument control and scaffolds players toward more complex rhythmic and harmonic responsibilities in the ensemble.

• Balance your baritone line with the rest of the low brass when playing the full-band arrangements; your voice carries harmonic weight, not just bass support.
• Work duets and trios with other players in your section to lock ensemble timing before bringing the arrangements to full band.
• Keep the dynamic range in solo passages consistent with the overall volume level of the piece; young baritone players often lose control when moving between ensemble and featured parts.
• Practice the transition between registers (written B-flat to E-flat and beyond) with long tones first, then apply the same breath support to the songs in context.

Use this as your primary method text for baritone in the second year of your band program, progressing sequentially through the book during regular rehearsals. The duets, trios, and full-band pieces provide ready-made content for your first and second-year concerts without requiring supplemental materials.

• Reading treble clef at the beginning level with increasing rhythmic complexity
• Playing in major and minor keys with attention to intonation in ensemble
• Breath control and sustaining through longer phrases
• Balancing ensemble blend with clear articulation
• Interpreting dynamic and tempo markings in context
• Coordination with section partners through duets and trios