Schottenbauer Publishing

Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Big Print Band Method: Special Support for Woodwinds

Every woodwind instrument is easy to learn with The Big Print Band MethodThe method series currently includes several essential skills books for flute, piccolo, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, English horn, and bassoon, plus a full range of recorders (garklein, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, & bass, in Baroque and German fingering).

Woodwind instruments provide unique challenges for elementary students, due to the complexity of alternate fingering options. First adopting a recorder-based fingering option, then teaching alternate fingerings in systematic exercises, The Big Print Band Method hastens student development of essential skills. In addition, by providing a structured basis for learning both individual and group skills, The Big Print Band Method prepares woodwind students quickly for the traditional music-reading skills required for both band and symphony orchestra.

The first set of exercise books features big print instruction, fingering charts, extra-large musical notation, clear note names, and keyboards in brightly coordinated colors. Books for Bassoon include options for learning bass, tenor, and alto clefs. Books include:
  • Method Boosters 
  • 3-Note Exercises 
  • Interval Studies 
  • Learning Alternate Fingerings
  • Interval Exercises with Alternate Fingerings

The next step in learning includes a series of exercises with big print musical staves and traditional black-and-white ink, allowing students to have a gradual transition to standard musical notation. These exercises are available in packages including multimedia (audio and/or MIDI) support. Packages include: 
  • Big Print Tunes 
  • Big Print Duets 
  • Big Print Ensemble 
  • Elementary Exercises (Multimedia Expected in 2015) 

The series also includes a theory series, available separately. 
  • Big Print Theory

    Each of these components is described below, with sample pages illustrating the style:


    Method Boosters
    Learning basic skills is easy with large-print fingering charts, note names, and keyboards, plus 1-note and 2-note exercises. Transposition charts are included for relevant instruments. A selection of sample pages demonstrate the variety of exercises available in each Method Booster:










    3-Note Exercise Books
    With these big print exercises, students systematically hone fingering skills throughout the entire range.




    Interval Exercises
    Learning interval fingering combinations and names has never been easier!  Big print exercises systematically teach all interval combinations, up to one octave. 




    Learning Alternate Fingerings
    Woodwind players learn alternate fingerings with this exercise book set. Exercises focus on comparison between normal and alternate fingerings, as well as presenting a series of exercises with half-step and whole-step combinations (2- and 3-note series).




    Interval Exercises with Alternate Fingerings
    With this exercise book set, woodwind players receive extra support for learning alternate fingerings while playing intervals. Every relevant interval combination of normal and alternate fingerings is presented for woodwinds.  





    Elementary Exercises
    Large-print, systematic exercises provide support for practicing basic techniques. Lengthy introductory texts provide tips for technique and practice. Exercises focus on long tones, short tones, 2- and 3-note combinations, and basic scales and arpeggios.



    Big Print Tunes
    Large-print children's folk tunes, transposed chromatically into every key within a 2-octave range, provide excellent practice on beginning instruments. The print size is the same font as Elementary Exercises above. Packages available from MusicaNeo include both pdf and MIDI computer files, the latter which can be transposed if necessary. Tunes are available in Treble Clef C, Treble Clef F, Low Treble Clef F, Alto Clef, Bass Clef C, and Bass Clef F. Tunes are organized into three levels of difficulty, corresponding to the structure of The Big Print Music Method: 

    • Level 1: Basic Duple Time
    • Level 2: Faster Tempo
    • Level 3: Triple Time




    Big Print Duets
    Large-print duets provide an easy start for pairs of similar instruments, such as two flutes or two clarinets. Big Print Duets provide instructional guidance, plus audio and MIDI files, so that even one instrument can learn to play duets at home by playing along with the computer!




    Big Print Ensemble
    Even one elementary student can learn ensemble skills with Big Print Ensemble computer accompaniment! Currently consisting of 40 pieces grouped into levels by difficulty, these educational pieces provide a variety of popular folk tunes, classical music excerpts, exercises, and original compositions for elementary to intermediate students. Each piece includes audio & MIDI files for home practice, so that even one student can practice alone. Plus, each package includes flexible instrumentation scores, suitable for any combination of band & orchestral instruments. With flexible instrumentation scores, instruments can easily switch parts, sharing the practice of melody, harmony, or bass. Students can also take turns playing the unpitched percussion parts, or even conducting the group! With such flexible options, elementary students can use Big Print Ensemble with friends, neighbors, and/or family to hone their music skills! 




    Big Print Ensemble pieces are grouped by difficulty, into the following levels:

    • Level 1
      • Common Time
      • Quarter, Half, and Whole Notes
      • One Octave Range
    • Level 2
      • Duple Time
      • Eighth Notes
      • One Octave + Perfect Fifth Range
    • Level 3
      • Triple Time
      • Two Octave Range
    • Level 4
      • Dotted Rhythms


    Theory: Scales, Chords, & Arpeggios
    In this textbook and workbook, students can practice theory skills pictorially, with large-print keyboards and arrows. 




    Conducting Method
    Learning basic conducting skills can develop student mastery of ensemble concepts. The Big Print Conducting Method teaches basic skills through a combination of books and follow-along video, plus exercises which include conductor's score, flexible instrumentation parts, and audio for home practice. Students are able to gain additional practice with conducting skills by using pieces from Big Print Ensemble.




    Completion of the Series

    The complete Big Print Music Method, including the main method series and other support materials, is expected soon.

    Availability

    Currently, books from The Big Print Music Method are available at low-cost via direct download and printing from MusicaNeo. Selections from the method series are available in full-color print on high-quality paper from CreateSpace and Amazon.

    Additional information on the series, as well as free samples, are available from the Schottenbauer Publishing website and MusicaNeo.  Preview videos are available from YouTube.


    Additional Information