PDF Band Music Blog

My First Sheet Music 

This beginning band sheet music was specifically written to supplement  Essential Elements 2000 method book that my beginning bands are using. In attempts to prepare my students for intermediate and advanced bands, I not only use the method book but band music as well. “My First Sheet Music” was written with the skills students have by mid-year in mind. Ranges, rhythms, expressive qualities and other elements that concert bands use are reinforced.  My students really enjoy playing “My First Sheet Music” because they find it challenging yet playable. It gives my students a sense of accomplishement when they can play it well.

Tom Donaldson

It was an interesting challenge writing “News Ticker Overture”, because writing sheet music for the intermediate band or for an advanced beginning band requires that special attention be made of exactly what students know at this level.  At the same time it is equally important to respect the musicality of young musicians and to produce sheet music that will be interesting and challenging.
The title “News Ticker” probably shows my age because I remember the days of ticker tape parades and watching WWII movies where the ticker tape was the primary means of global communication.  The rhythms in the B section of “News Ticker” remind me of those old days when many news programs used the rhythms of the ticker machine as introductions to the news program.
The opening section of “News Ticker” features standard block chords with the addition of a few major 6ths to add flavor.  The B section percussion parts are challenging and to really enjoy the full flavor of sound it is important to have the xylophone.  Be careful, however, to not let the xylophone dominate the rhythmic structure of this section.  All in all, “News Ticker” is strong candidate for inclusion as a contest selection.  I hope that the composition becomes a part of the concert band standard repertoire.

tom