Marching Band Arranging: Methods, Materials, Techniques [Paperback] Review

I used William Spencer-Pierce's marching band arrangements in my high school marching band for many years. They were always well received by the audience and judging community. My students and I were never dissapointed.
I recognize many of the techniques in the book because Bill explained many of the " hows and whys " of his philosophy when I was his client. This book is full of thesegreat nuggets of information on marching band arranging.
I especially like the book because it is practical rather than purely theoretical. The widespread use of musical examples really does a nice job of illustrating the text.
The book belongs in the personal library of every high school marching band director. It would also be a valuable resource for high school or college students considering a career in instrumental music education.
Experienced band directors can also benefit becausearrangements might need to be tweaked during during the marching season to adapt to personnel changes or judges' suggestions.
Based on forty years of teaching marching band, I hardily recommend this book!

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Product Description:
Conversational in style and full of practical advice, this user-friendly book takes the reader step-by-step through the process of writing effective arrangements that will make any band sound better. Over 150 musical examples illustrate the dozens of practical tips and techniques presented.Chapters include Fundamentals, Notation Basics, Basic Scoring, Form, The Wind Section, The Percussion Section, Working Procedure, Special Effects, The Jazz Idiom, and Getting A Big Sound With Smaller Groups. An Appendix includes information on copyright issues, suggested reading, and three arrangements with annotations by the author.Pencil-and-paper procedures are outlined, along with tips and techniques for using MIDI and computer notation software to input, score, print, and record. Detailed without being too technical, "Marching Band Arranging" is an excellent reference for both aspiring writers and for directors searching for ways to improve their group.

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The Contemporary Keyboardist and Expanded (Instructional) [Plastic Comb] Review

John Novello is an amazing musician.Having a book that gives insite into his approach would be quite valuable all by itself, but he has put together a very comprehensive work that is a must have for any musician looking to expand his/her knowledge and abilities.In this modern age where the electronic keyboard provides the easiest access to the world of instrumentation, as a songwriter/arranger I find John's Contemporary Keyboardist to be an essential reference, especially as my main instrument is the guitar.

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Product Description:
This comprehensive, 562-page method, called "Solid, readable and relevant" by Keyboard magazine and "The major work for today's pianists" by International Musician, is divided into four sections. The first, "A Philosophy of Music," deals with communication, cause-effect principles and practice disciplines. The second section, "Mechanics," covers all the basics of keyboard music and playing (notation, harmony, improv, sight reading, etc.), as well as their applications. The third section, "The Business Scene," contains guidelines and industry advice for contemporary keyboardists. Section four, "Interviews," provides insights into the artistry and technique of famous players such as Herbie Hancock, Henry Mancini, Edgar Winter, Keith Emerson, Paul Shaffer and many more. Includes an index.

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Music Theory Resource Book [Spiral-bound] Review

"Music Theory Resource Book" by Harold Owen is a fantastic, creative approach to teaching music theory that emphasizes the development of musical skills that students can apply in a practical manner in any setting they choose, whether it be in the music industry or in graduate school. The book not only covers issues such as renaissance and medieval theory and notation in-depth, but also provides knowledge about MIDI note numbers and how to read piano-roll style notation in a sequencer. While this book would be a great book for a first-time student of music theory in a college or university, it is also good for people wishing to review (such as graduate theory review, a course I've taught). In addition, it's a fantastic review for those who teach theory and composition -- the chapter on notation (Chapter 2 - The Notation of Music) is something every composer should have at their disposal -- especially beginning composition students in a college setting. Especially useful for composition students (and all music students for that matter) are the two chapters on the music of the twentieth century -- the first on techniques developed in the first half of the century and the second on techniques developed in the second half of the century. Every chapter has something for everyone -- the chapter on "The Anatomy of Chords" not only describes the type of chord nomenclature found in the typical college theory classroom (Roman numerals and figured bass), but also includes a thorough section on chord symbols used in jazz and popular music -- something all musicians are bound to encounter in the real world. As someone who teaches music theory in a university setting, I've found this book to be a valuable resource. Too often, theory books use short excerpts to demonstrate a chord or principle. However, every chapter in this book begins with complete sections (and often entire movements) of musical works from the literature -- this helps to put the chord or principle being studied into context, something I find very important. I highly recommend this book.

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Product Description:
Music Theory Resource Book covers all the topics typically studied in the basic music theory sequence. Concise and accessible, it features a basic anthology of musical examples--most of them complete compositions--from a broad range of periods and styles. Each chapter begins with these musical examples, which are followed by thought-provoking discussion questions that encourage readers to learn through a "discovery" approach. A succinct outline follows the discussion questions, summarizing the principles of music theory for easy reference and review. Exercises at the end of each chapter engage readers in a variety of analytical and practical tasks ranging in difficulty from simple to challenging. This volume includes subjects not usually found in standard theory books including basic acoustics, contrapuntal techniques, jazz harmony, musics from non-Western cultures, and music since 1950.

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