AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2026: THE CLASSROOM COMPOSITION METHOD BOOK
A traditional work book designed for practicing composition skills in LARGE ENSEMBLE settings like school band, orchestra, & choir
Every music director knows that composing is a fundamental musical skill. So why don’t we spend more class time composing with our large ensembles? The immediate challenges are many: How do we address the transposition and clef differences? Why should we “give up” rehearsal time to learn music composition skills? Where do I even start, especially if I’ve never taught composition in any capacity?
Every music director knows that composing is a fundamental musical skill. So why don’t we spend more class time composing with our large ensembles? The immediate challenges are many: How do we address the transposition and clef differences? Why should we “give up” rehearsal time to learn music composition skills? Where do I even start, especially if I’ve never taught composition in any capacity?
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The Classroom Composition Method Book is a traditional workbook (pencil & paper) designed specifically for teaching composition concepts in large ensemble settings like school band, orchestra, & choir. The books are organized by CLEF and TRANSPOSITION, just like any ensemble method book; each student reads, writes, and performs with their own book in a regular rehearsal setting, with a monophonic instrument or voice. The lessons are coordinated so that anyone and everyone can work together (with the correct book for their instrument).
This book allows you to incorporate basic music composition skills into your regular rehearsal schedule, with zero preparation necessary. The lessons can be done during rehearsal/class, individually or as a group, and they also make excellent sub-plans, allowing the students to work interdependently in the director’s absence. Following the conventions of Western music notation, the 18 lessons are designed to serve as springboards for creativity and composition beyond the scope of the music classroom. Not only does this book give you a curricular tool, it can reinforce performance fundamentals while raising students’ overall musicianship. Because of the musical skills required, the method book series is recommended for INTERMEDIATE students who are in their third year of study (approx. 8th grade) at a minimum. |
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I'm incredibly happy to be partnering with my friends at JWPepper & Sons for this method book series, they have done an outstanding job with the print on demand orders for my entire catalog, and the quality is top notch.
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There are seven books in the series; TREBLE CLEF (C, Bb, Eb, F) ALTO CLEF (for violas) and two BASS CLEF books (C & Tuba). Anyone can work together if they have the correct book for their clef and transposition.
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