Banana Blues for classrooms and school ensembles - Mixed Abilities Classroom and School Ensemble
by Austin Ralphson
Concert Band - Digital Sheet Music

Item Number: 20437528
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Concert Band - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.569815

Composed by Austin Ralphson. Blues,Instructional,Standards. Score and Parts. 144 pages. Austin Ralphson #3057925. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.569815).

The Mixed Abilities School Ensemble Series

** For the complete pack of pieces in this series, get a great bulk saving at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/mixed-abilities-classroom-ensemble-pack-extra-value-bundle-of-music-for-school-groups-digital-sheet-music/20768644?ac=1&aff_id=559837 **

Children (and adults) who learn a musical instrument will always progress at different rates. Students also develop some of the many skills involved in instrumental playing faster than other skills.

The Mixed Abilities School Ensemble Series has the flexibility to allow pupils of different standards to play together in one ensemble (up to five parts). It also encourages students to develop improvisation skills by providing soloing opportunities within all parts, with suggested pitches for improvising.

Each piece has five different parts which are split into four ability levels as follows:

A – Range of about 5 notes, easy rhythms. B – Range of about 1 octave, basic rhythms. C – Range of about a 12th, some more difficult rhythms. D – Range of about 2 octaves, some rhythmic complexity.

This enables the teacher to select parts which are suitable for the standard of individual players in the group. As a general rule, the pieces have been composed as follows:

Part 1 – melody / countermelody (alternates with Part 2)

Part 2 – melody / countermelody (alternates with Part 1)

Part 3 – accompaniment (synchronises with Part 4)

Part 4 – accompaniment (synchronises with Part 3)

Part 5 – bass line (independent)

Each part also comes in a wide array of transpositions, clefs and pitches. Hence, almost any combination of instruments can play together in an ensemble of mixed abilities, including:

Flutes, clarinets, saxophones, mixed woodwind, trumpets, mixed brass (including brass band), violins, strings, keyboards/pianos, tuned percussion.

An ensemble using any combination of instruments (as is often found within schools) will work effectively as well.

Example: A quintet might be selected as follows:

1A (violin), 2C (trumpet), 3B (clarinet), 4B (tenor sax), 5D (trombone)

The melody in 1A would be very simple but would contrast nicely when passed to the more difficult 2C. Parts 3B and 4B will have quite a simple accompaniment between them, whilst the bass line on 5D will be more complex and rhythmically interesting. Parts can obviously be doubled up as well beyond five players.

Please note that the teacher of the ensemble should be careful to pick parts which are well-suited to the players’ abilities.

BANANA BLUES is the first piece in this series, and follows a traditional 12-bar blues form.

Please listen to the mp3 file, which is an electronic example of the piece being played with glockenspiel on 1C, piano on 2B, xylophone on 3B, clarinet on 4A and 'cello on 5D.

Score and all parts are included here in a variety of pitches, clefs and transpositions. It is the complete package!

Printing and Copying

The purchaser may print or copy all pages of this resource as required in order to facilitate a performance, but must not distribute to others.

This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard’s global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.

About Digital Downloads

Digital Downloads are downloadable sheet music files that can be viewed directly on your computer, tablet or mobile device. Once you download your digital sheet music, you can view and print it at home, school, or anywhere you want to make music, and you don’t have to be connected to the internet. Just purchase, download and play!

PLEASE NOTE: Your Digital Download will have a watermark at the bottom of each page that will include your name, purchase date and number of copies purchased. You are only authorized to print the number of copies that you have purchased. You may not digitally distribute or print more copies than purchased for use (i.e., you may not print or digitally distribute individual copies to friends or students).