Testimonials
Mary Margaret Wilson - The Tatnall School, Delaware
Some of the things I like most about BB4BB are the articulation challenges, exercises in major and minor keys with 8va and 8vb options, the variety in difficulty level (my least and most experienced students can play simultaneously while each being challenged), and the many percussion options which keep my back row engaged! My students' sight reading skills have greatly improved by using this book. BB4BB is affordable and I'd recommend it to any beginning-intermediate band program. I like it for many reasons, but most importantly, my students like it too!
Some of the things I like most about BB4BB are the articulation challenges, exercises in major and minor keys with 8va and 8vb options, the variety in difficulty level (my least and most experienced students can play simultaneously while each being challenged), and the many percussion options which keep my back row engaged! My students' sight reading skills have greatly improved by using this book. BB4BB is affordable and I'd recommend it to any beginning-intermediate band program. I like it for many reasons, but most importantly, my students like it too!
Mandy Moburg - Cotter Schools, Minnesota
One of the things I enjoy most about BB4BB is the numerous technique building exercises. It is challenging to find a book that has this variety of technique building exercise - something I have been looking for in a book for awhile. BB4BB is wonderful for those looking for a warm-up book that will last all year without getting boring or too repetitive for the students. I am able to teach many skills such as tone, balance, rhythm, scales, technique, and articulations through this book. I also enjoy the varying levels this book provides because we it gives the ensemble a goal to work towards. My students enjoy the variety of the book. Other books are extremely repetitive and they like that it doesn't have to be the same everyday. They also very much enjoy the names of each selection and having parts where they can choose their own note or if they are going to play part 1 or 2. Something surprising to me that they REALLY enjoy are the exercises focused on dynamics with the whole notes. I highly recommend this book!
One of the things I enjoy most about BB4BB is the numerous technique building exercises. It is challenging to find a book that has this variety of technique building exercise - something I have been looking for in a book for awhile. BB4BB is wonderful for those looking for a warm-up book that will last all year without getting boring or too repetitive for the students. I am able to teach many skills such as tone, balance, rhythm, scales, technique, and articulations through this book. I also enjoy the varying levels this book provides because we it gives the ensemble a goal to work towards. My students enjoy the variety of the book. Other books are extremely repetitive and they like that it doesn't have to be the same everyday. They also very much enjoy the names of each selection and having parts where they can choose their own note or if they are going to play part 1 or 2. Something surprising to me that they REALLY enjoy are the exercises focused on dynamics with the whole notes. I highly recommend this book!
Rich Chiappetta - East Lyme High School, Connecticut
To my fellow Band Directors and Colleagues; My name is Richard Michael Chiappetta and I have been a band director in the public schools of Connecticut for 38 years completing 35 of those years as a high school band director. I am happy and proud to have had Robert W. Wilson, the author of "Building Blocks for Beginning Band" as one of my students at East Lyme High School. I am pleased to endorse Rob's method book as I am now an elementary band director with 4th and 5th graders.
When I switched over to instructing young students I searched for a method that allowed for the teaching of not just the basics of wind and percussion instrument pedagogy but also allowing for beginning students to develop true musicianship and habits that would carry them along to excellence as they grew. I must say the Rob Wilson's book was my answer. While I supplement his book with a more traditional method, "Building Blocks" fills in the gaps that usually occur with most first and second year methods. Long tones for tone quality and intonation are stressed as well as scales and methods of articulation (two note slurs etc.) chromatics and arpeggio finger flexibilities. He uses clever "Twister Variations" that provide good ear training and intervallic exercises for each instrument. I am anticipating a move to instructing 6th grade band in the near future and I will be using "Building Blocks" as my exclusive method/resource to be sure my middle school band students have the background that they will need for successful participation in ninth grade through high school completion. (Yes, the musicianship demands are increased as the book progresses and can be used through middle school as well as high school!) My students enjoy working in this method and I have seen a measurable improvement in their skills and it seems a lot easier to get them to practice.
Of special note is the percussion approach in "Building Blocks". As a percussionist myself, I appreciate the thought and care that Rob has given to the development of young percussion performers. Rob Wilson is an accomplished percussionist and he gives young students everything they need to succeed going way above the normal method book concepts. For me, the percussion book is groundbreaking and much needed by the young musicians who are growing up in the modern world. I could go on but please know that I give "Building Blocks for Beginning Band" by Robert W. Wilson, my highest recommendation and endorsement and I thank Rob for this valuable resource that has made my task of young band teaching much more fulfilling.
Best Wishes to all;
To my fellow Band Directors and Colleagues; My name is Richard Michael Chiappetta and I have been a band director in the public schools of Connecticut for 38 years completing 35 of those years as a high school band director. I am happy and proud to have had Robert W. Wilson, the author of "Building Blocks for Beginning Band" as one of my students at East Lyme High School. I am pleased to endorse Rob's method book as I am now an elementary band director with 4th and 5th graders.
When I switched over to instructing young students I searched for a method that allowed for the teaching of not just the basics of wind and percussion instrument pedagogy but also allowing for beginning students to develop true musicianship and habits that would carry them along to excellence as they grew. I must say the Rob Wilson's book was my answer. While I supplement his book with a more traditional method, "Building Blocks" fills in the gaps that usually occur with most first and second year methods. Long tones for tone quality and intonation are stressed as well as scales and methods of articulation (two note slurs etc.) chromatics and arpeggio finger flexibilities. He uses clever "Twister Variations" that provide good ear training and intervallic exercises for each instrument. I am anticipating a move to instructing 6th grade band in the near future and I will be using "Building Blocks" as my exclusive method/resource to be sure my middle school band students have the background that they will need for successful participation in ninth grade through high school completion. (Yes, the musicianship demands are increased as the book progresses and can be used through middle school as well as high school!) My students enjoy working in this method and I have seen a measurable improvement in their skills and it seems a lot easier to get them to practice.
Of special note is the percussion approach in "Building Blocks". As a percussionist myself, I appreciate the thought and care that Rob has given to the development of young percussion performers. Rob Wilson is an accomplished percussionist and he gives young students everything they need to succeed going way above the normal method book concepts. For me, the percussion book is groundbreaking and much needed by the young musicians who are growing up in the modern world. I could go on but please know that I give "Building Blocks for Beginning Band" by Robert W. Wilson, my highest recommendation and endorsement and I thank Rob for this valuable resource that has made my task of young band teaching much more fulfilling.
Best Wishes to all;
Hayley Varhol - William Penn Charter School, Pennsylvania
I have been using Building Blocks for about six years, both in a full band setting and in private lessons with my young students. One of my favorite parts of the book are the Rhythm Concepts. Starting from the very basic quarter note and quarter rest combinations, and progressing to complex sixteenth note and rest combinations, it has proven to be a very valuable tool when students are encountering a new concept in their music. The teacher can say, "Oh, so you have some dotted-eighth sixteenth rhythms in your new music? Well, here are ten more examples of that rhythm!" When a student can accurately interpret the rhythm in various forms, we as teachers know that they are not simply learning the rhythm in a song by rote, but will recognize it in other contexts as well. It is proof that they are thinking musicians.
I also like the Beginning Scale Starters, which start out only using the first five notes of four different major scales, then gradually branch out to the sixth and seventh scale degrees. It is important for students to experience playing music in different keys, even though the vast majority of beginning band literature is only written in concert Bb or Eb. This book provides some fun technical exercises that make unfamiliar key signatures totally approachable. Now I feel that my students will be ready for those key signatures when they finally start seeing them in the band arrangements!
I have been using Building Blocks for about six years, both in a full band setting and in private lessons with my young students. One of my favorite parts of the book are the Rhythm Concepts. Starting from the very basic quarter note and quarter rest combinations, and progressing to complex sixteenth note and rest combinations, it has proven to be a very valuable tool when students are encountering a new concept in their music. The teacher can say, "Oh, so you have some dotted-eighth sixteenth rhythms in your new music? Well, here are ten more examples of that rhythm!" When a student can accurately interpret the rhythm in various forms, we as teachers know that they are not simply learning the rhythm in a song by rote, but will recognize it in other contexts as well. It is proof that they are thinking musicians.
I also like the Beginning Scale Starters, which start out only using the first five notes of four different major scales, then gradually branch out to the sixth and seventh scale degrees. It is important for students to experience playing music in different keys, even though the vast majority of beginning band literature is only written in concert Bb or Eb. This book provides some fun technical exercises that make unfamiliar key signatures totally approachable. Now I feel that my students will be ready for those key signatures when they finally start seeing them in the band arrangements!