Scott Hensiak

This method is not structured like others I have seen before. The goal here is that each “lesson” is played daily in class until it’s time to move on, which helps to teach students how to practice at home. The central concepts I have chosen, once introduced, are repeated in a “spiral curriculum” format, which means students will regularly practice the essentials throughout the year, with increasing rigor and varied formats.

Central Concepts for Suite 1: Beginning Band:

• Note Review (essential notes, used as call and response warmups)

• Clap and Count (dedicated rhythm instruction of primary note values)

• Articulation Station (dedicated focus on staccato, legato, and slur)

• Reading Rests (dedicated exercises with rests, often familiar songs with missing notes)

• Eighth Notes (reading of varied eighth note rhythms and eighth note rests)

• 3/4 time

• Dotted Quarter Notes

This book is written in unison with very few alterations made for range considerations. Lastly, each instrument includes a series of “Private Lesson” exercises embedded for use within each lesson, meant to dedicate small parts of class time to instrument specific instruction. It may not always be fitting to play every single exercise, but it is my hope that the structure will provide a roadmap for routine and successful practicing. As your students progress throughout the year, lessons get shorter (one page) as the spring is typically a busy time of year and concerts are looming.

Throughout the book you will notice a level 1-4 practice tool and colored stars to place “teacher stickers” when students accomplish what they need. These are in turn modeled for those using standard based grading and for the feeling students get when a sticker gets slapped on the piece they’ve been working on.