Small School Band Techniques & Tips Part 2 - Song Element Sheets

Here is a trick that is used on a number of available band arrangements.

When you get ready to hand out a new piece of music, especially a contest piece, make a Song Elements Sheet.

Here is an example one I made (This is just the:

oye_como_va_elements_-_saxophone.pdf
File Size:	23 kb
File Type:	pdf

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If you look at the file, you will see that I have several lines labeled "A" - "F".  These lines are different sections of the music.  The first is the bass line for example, B is a repeating riff, and so on.  I have taken all of the main elements of the songs and put them into music notation software and transposed them so that all instruments in the band can play them.

Now, when we start to learn the piece, I don't have to work with an individual section, I can have the whole band play each part, before we sight read the actually piece.

This offers huge advantages:
1. All students are playing the whole time.
2. Students that don't get to play the melody in the song, still get to play it.  This encourages some students that don't get many moving lines in band arrangements (Saxophone, low woodwinds, Tubas, etc).
3. More mileage out of a piece of music.  Since all students are learning a little bit of all the parts there is more educational benefit.

This does take some time, and you have to have Music notation skills, but it can be a very handy way to help your kids grow.