A Christmas Ballad
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL E
Coming Soon!
(item no. 2011)
An Early American Hymn
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL E
This plaintive folk song was originally titled Distress. Its wandering melody has a very unusual phrase structure. It could be used to introduce your students to G minor, C minor, or the aeolian mode.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2012)
August Overture
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL F
This composition will give your students an introduction to meter changes within a piece. It begins as a gentle ballad in 3/4 but ends as a triumphant march in 4/4. The dotted-eighth and sixteenth combination is emphasized in the march. Percussionists will also get practice with nine-stroke rolls.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2013)
Away!
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL B
This lively little march is based on Away Down Souf! by Stephen Foster. With it, you can teach your ensemble proper eighth-note articulation and dynamic contrast. It also drills the most common steps and skips in the B-flat major scale.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2014)
Challenge!
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL E
This composition is the warm-up for its level. In this warm-up the first 8 bard are devoted to smooth phrases that drill the notes your students already know. Then, 16 measures are spent on articulation and rhythmic reading skills. The final 16 measures slowly introduce your students to each of the pitches, dynamics markings, and articulations that they can expect to see in the next level.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2015)
Fanfare and Ballad
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL A
This composition will introduce your students to A-B-A form. Wind players will get loads of practice with quarter notes and half notes, and percussion players will get to work on double-eighth notes in several repeated patterns.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2016)
February March
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL A
This little march will be great practice for your ensemble. Wind players will see lots of quarter notes; percussionists will see lots of eighth notes. You could also use it to develop listening skills by challenging your students to hear contrary motion and a melody in inversion.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2017)
Four Chorales
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL D
As its title suggests, this composition presents four different chorale tunes. They are simply stated and explore several key areas, all while staying close to the B-flat diatonic system. This piece will help your students play independent lines with confidence. Rhythms are kept very simple to allow you to focus on blend, balance, and phrasing.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2018)
In The Bleak Midwinter
G. Holst
Arranged by Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL D
This simple setting of Holst's beloved Christmas song will give you an opportunity to build a full, balanced sound. Phrases are very intuitive and rhythms are kept simple.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2019)
Joy to the Holy Night Jingle
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL C
This whimsical composition blends Jingle Bells, O Holy Night, Silent Night, and In The Bleak Midwinter into a festive opener for your Christmas concert. You could also use it to introduce students to the staccato articulation or to reinforce whole, half, quarter, and double-eighth note rhythms. This piece also features a prominent sleigh bell part.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2020)
Lo, How A Rose
Praetorius
Arranged by Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL B
This is a simple setting of the lovely hymn associated to Praetorius. It very gently explores some seventh and ninth chords in the opening and also later in the piece. This composition is an excellent way to teach your ensemble to make phrases together.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2021)
Native Country March
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL C
This warm and stately patriotic march is loosely based on America. Since the rhythms in the wind players' parts are very simple, it would serve well as an introduction to E-flat major. Percussionists will have an opportunity to perfect their flam rudiment in performance.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2022)
Sakura
Japanese Folk Song
Arranged by Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL D
This colorful setting of the famous Japanese folk song will serve as a great introduction to the minor mode. There are also many opportunities to develop phrasing and dynamic contrast.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2023)
Show-Off!
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL F
This composition is the last in a series of six leveled warm-ups. Through learning this piece, students will be able to begin GRADE 2 compositions.
(item no. 2024)
Spot Pond March
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL F
This march will give your students an opportunity to perfect the dotted-eighth and sixteenth note combination. Also, the pairing of a legato melody with a fanfare-like accompaniment will require listening skills and balanced playing. Percussionists will see flams, nine-stroke rolls, and easy sixteenth notes.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2025)
Stretch!
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL C
This piece is the warm-up for its level. In it, the first 8 measures are devoted to smooth phrases that drill notes your students already know. Then, 16 measures are spent on articulation and rhythmic reading skills. Finally, the last 16 bars slowly introduce your students to each of the pitches, rhythms, and articulations they can expect to see in the next level.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2026)
Tune-Up!
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL A
This piece is the warm-up for its level. In it, the first 8 measures are devoted to smooth phrases that drill notes your students already know. Then, 16 measures are spent on articulation and rhythmic reading skills. Finally, the last 16 bars slowly introduce your students to each of the pitches, rhythms, and articulations they can expect to see in the next level.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2027)
Vesper Hymn
J. Stevenson
Arranged by Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL D
John Andrew Stevenson wrote this glorious hymn in 1818. In this setting you'll find it harmonized with smoothly flowing lines and simple chords. This piece is very simple in its rhythm, which will allow your players to spend time perfecting their breathing, legato playing, and expression.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2028)
Warm-Up Set
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVELS A-F
Purchase all six Overture Series warm-ups (levels A-F) for a special discount price.
(item no. 2029)
Warm-Up!
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL B
This piece is the warm-up for its level. In it, the first 8 measures are devoted to smooth phrases that drill notes your students already know. Then, 16 measures are spent on articulation and rhythmic reading skills. Finally, the last 16 bars slowly introduce your students to each of the pitches, rhythms, and articulations they can expect to see in the next level.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2030)
Work-Out!
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL D
This piece is the warm-up for its level. In it, the first 8 measures are devoted to smooth phrases that drill notes your students already know. Then, 16 measures are spent on articulation and rhythmic reading skills. Finally, the last 16 bars slowly introduce your students to each of the pitches, rhythms, and articulations they can expect to see in the next level.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2031)
Young Patriots March
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL D
This march in E-flat has a memorable theme built on the dotted-half and quarter note combination. It could also be used to teach your ensemble accents, staccato articulations, dynamic contrast, or A-B-A form. Percussionists will get a chance to practice sets of four sixteenth notes at the piece's finale.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2032)
Zum Gali Gali
Travis M. Ramsey
beginner band
GRADE 1, LEVEL C
This dramatic setting of the Israeli folk song has an arch-like form and plenty of dynamic contrast. It could also be used to teach canons or the aeolian mode.
Listen to mp3.(item no. 2033)