BUYING EARLY BAND MUSIC TODAY - The standard system for identifying the difficulty level of band music is to assign each piece a grade, from 1 to 6. It has been my experience that this system lacks detail at its lower end. It seems that many bands fall 'in the cracks' between grades one and two. To remedy this, many publishers offer music at intermediate grade levels like 1/2 and 1 1/2. The problem with this solution is that there is little continuity between publishers. There is no 'standard' way to assign these grade levels. A piece called grade 1 by one publisher might be harder for your kids to play than another publisher's grade 1 1/2 piece. As a result, that Grade 1 1/2 piece you bought to 'stretch' your kids' abilities might turn out to be too easy for them. That nice easy Grade 1/2 piece might not be ready for the winter concert.

OUR SOLUTION - At Kenmore Studios we take the guesswork out of buying music for your ensemble. Here's what we've done: The standard grade 1 literature is now divided into six levels, A through F. All you need to know is your own ensemble. Then, find the grade level that fits your kids. Each grade level is posted right here, clearly and concisely. Or, answer a few questions about your ensemble and let us help you choose. We tell you the key, meter, tempo, and exact range for each level. We tell you which rhythmic values, articulations, and dynamic markings are included in each level. We even tell you how much independence and polyphony there is at each level. There's no guessing, and no secrets.

INTEGRATED WARM-UPS - For each of the six levels, there is a specially-designed warm-up. The first half of the piece uses simple phrases and rhythms to drill the notes your students are already comfortable with. Then, new notes, rhythms, dynamic markings, and articulations are introduced in the second half. Every one of the new notes, rhythhms, dynamic markings, and articulations that appears in Level B is included at the end of the warm-up for Level A. Every new skill students will need to play Level E pieces is introduced in Level D. What's more, these warm-ups can be purchased at a discount when you buy them along with other OVERTURE SERIES compositions.

FLEXIBLE INSTRUMENTATION - These compositions are designed with small bands or bands with unusual instrumentation in mind. Pieces are princiaplly scored for 2 flutes, oboe, bassoon, 2 clarinets, 2 alto saxophones, 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, and snare drum/bass drum, but each score includes optional mallet percussion, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, auxiliary percussion, and piano parts. Further, interlocking parts and many doublings ensure that even bands which are light in one or two sections will be able to make a good sound.

HOW IT STARTED - The first OVERTURE SERIES compositions were created as a matter of necessity. I began teaching music in Massachusetts with a band of eight very dedicated young musicians. There wasn't much money to buy music (and even if there had been, we would have lacked the instrumentation to perform it). So I started to arrange music for the band. To make the pieces work sound full, I had to write very adaptable scores. Clarinet parts and trumpet parts had to stay low. The music could only use the five or six notes that the kids knew coming into the first rehearsal. The music needed to take advantage of some very talented piano and mallet percussion students. Most of all, it had to be learned quickly: my rehearsal time was limited to forty-five minutes per week. And then it hit me. I bet I'm not the only band teacher in the world who has a limited instrumentation, small budget, and not enough time in front of the kids. I bet someone else could use these. And so here it is. I hope you can put it to good use, and I hope your kids enjoy it. While you're perusing the site, I hope you'll check out some of my compositions for full concert band, too.

Composer and Music Educator Travis M. Ramsey, owner of Kenmore Studios.

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