The Easy, Done for you System to Eliminate Band Sightreading Struggles.
Re: Tips for sightreading
Posted by MSBD, in reply to “Tips for sightreading”
| David Herring’s Sight Reading Skill Builders for Band are amazing! I’ve just started using them since TMEA and have seen a huge difference in my group’s SR. He has a book for Level 1 and Level 2.
–Previous Message– |
“It’s been a miracle for my band! We were able to advance to reading Grade 4 pieces using this book.” -Jennifer- Cisco HS, Abilene, TX
“We Love it! We use it for our 2nd and Top Band. The parts on the CD are great.” -Sandra- Victoria West, Victoria, TX
Chapter 1: Sample
6 keyminders: Similar to Level one but a little more challenging befitting the difficulty.
10 Rhythm Lines – same principal as level one (Whole Notes, dotted halfs, half notes, and quarter notes) different rhythms.
Songs 1-6 in the 3 basic keys F, Bb, Eb
Chapter 2: Sample
20 Rhythm Lines adding eighth notes to the equation
Songs 7-12
Chapter 3: Sample
Chapter deals with Minor Keys (emphasizing the raised 7th) and secondary dominants (raised 4th)
6 Keyminders (one in each of the minors and majors 1 – 3 flats)
Songs 13-18
Chapter 4: Sample
This chapter deals with the stuff around the notes (Dynamics, Accents, tempo changes) In the level one book I wrote short etudes that would introduce the concept and then songs that would apply it.
Songs 19-24
Chapter 5: Sample
Adding dotted quarter note rhythms, eighth quarter eighth, and eighth rest 3 eighth note pickups.
30 rhythm lines
Songs 25-32
Chapter 6:
Multiple Entrance Etude Sample #1
Multiple Entrance Etude Sample #2
Chapter 6 concentrates on time signature changes and staggered entrances, affording students the opportunity to gain confidence in playing independently. Each skill is introduced in twelve short etudes. Six tunes at the end of the chapter include both skills, changing time signatures and staggered entrances.
The first 12 etudes deal with changing time signatures. Specifically the idea of counting rests after a time signature change. There are two of each possible time changes one with a fermata and one without.
The second set of 12 Etudes deal with multiple entrances. The first six are unison melodic lines that different parts of the band come in at different times (if played correctly it will sound like one melody) The second six are similar accept there are three different figures going on at once. First the band plays the figures together then after a measure or two they come in at different time.
Songs: 33-38
Chapter 7:
Deals with key changes F, Bb, and Eb
3 keyminders going through the different keys
20 Rhythm Key Lines: Rhythms that go back and forth between E and A through the various keys, and the differences in those notes.
6 Agility Drills: Simple exercises that rapidly go between the various keys
6 Modal Songs: Familiar Songs that change keys but the lines and spaces remain the same helping to further identify the changed notes.
6 Agility Songs: The same melodies but with the key changes occuring every measure to help facilitate understanding of the key changes and the changed notes.
24 Key Change Nuggets: Short exercise songs that go back and forth between 2 keys.
Songs 39-50
Everything you need in the form of a simple step by step organized plan to have your band reading music at UIL Level One.
Chapter One: (Sample Score Page)
• 6 Key Minders
• 10 Rhythm Lines
• 6 Short Sight Reading Pieces with quarters, half, and whole notes featuring pieces in
the key signature of F, B-flat, and E-flat
Chapter Two: (Sample Score Page)
• 20 Rhythm Lines
• 6 Short Sight Reading Pieces adding eighth notes featuring pieces in the key signature
of F, B-flat, and E-flat
Chapter Three: (Sample Page #1)(#2)
• 7 Etudes working on Dynamics, Articulations, Releases, and Tempo Changes.
• 7 Short sightreading pieces dealing with these concepts
Chapter Four: (Sample Score Page)
• 30 Rhythm Lines adding Dotted Quarters, 8th Quarter 8th, and 8th rest + 3 8th Notes
• 6 Short Sight Reading Pieces Utilizing these rhythms
Chapter Five (Sample Page #1)(#2)(#3)(#4)
• 9 Key Minder Etudes which travel through F, B-flat, and E Flat. Including 6 Chorales
• 6 Modal Etudes (The same melody where the key changes but the notes do not except
those affected by the key change)
• 7 Well known songs in full band arrangements that travel to F, B-flat, and E Flat
• 18 tunes from easy to medium difficulty dealing with key and time changes.
Would that be helpful to you?
Imagine if you had in your possession and at your fingertips an easy, organized (done for you) sightreading program that is:
• Always ready no matter where your band is
• Built from the ground up to the specific requirements of
UIL Level One and Level Two Sightreading
• Designed by a Director, just like you, still on the front lines of education; not based on how classrooms should behave, but grounded and born from in the trenches sightreading warfare with real students and real bands.
• A simple step by step plan where all the work is done for you. Just open the book and plug it in.
If you have the best sightreading program in the land, then you are to be congratulated, and you might have no need of our help.
But, if you are not that lucky a fellow or gal, then you owe it to yourself and your students to check out the David Herring Music Sightreading Skillbuilders autopilot system for building sightreading skills in your band. It might change your life.
In the words of Han Solo- “It’s true, all of it.” End your sightreading struggles.
Get your band a copy of David Herring Music Sightreading Skillbuilders Level One and Two today. For a quote including Shipping send your contact information via email to DHM@wacohill.com