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Skillfully intertwining “Auld Lang Syne” and “O Tannenbaum” (or “Oh Christmas Tree”), Ralph Ford has the whole holiday season covered in the soothing setting. This one should not be missed! Duration: 1:56

Four Grade 0.5 pieces: Russian Folk Dance (Beethoven); Popcorn; Lullaby (clarinet feature); March of the Midgets

Four Grade 1 pieces in one set: Largo from New World Symphony (Dvorak); The Marine’s Hymn; Down Deep; Slam Dunk.

Giddyup! Michael Story has scored Mel Brooks and John Morris’ energy-charged Blazing Saddles at the beginning level. You’ll hear the sounds, smell the smells and envision the sights of the old west. The theme from this comical film will be just the boost for your concert! Duration: 1:49

Take your students on a colorful trip down the old Camino Real (King’s Highway) with this authentic Latin style arrangement. The Camino Real was the road that connected the missions established along the California coast by Spanish missionaries. Your percussion section gets a chance to shine playing maracas, claves, tom-tom and bass drum. Duration: 2:10

Written in a style similar to Michael's popular Celtic Air and Dance, here is another terrific setting of Celtic tunes arranged for very young bands. This arrangement opens with a beautiful and flowing version of the familiar air Danny Boy. The setting concludes with the lively Star of the County Down featuring the percussion section and a dance-like melody. Duration: 2:50

The roots of this theme go as far back as the early 19th century, but its most familiar use is in the film score for Empire of the Sun. This lullaby carol will set a festive mood for your very first Christmas concert! Duration: 2:12

(Largo from symphony No.9 in E Minor (Dvorak); Largo from Xerxes (Handel))

It twirls - it whirls - it’s just right for your very first concert! Dervish, dedicated to the composer’s young daughters, is all the energy and lively spirit captured in this original work. If you can’t tame the energy of your upbeat band, you can easily channel it into this dynamic new work. Duration: 1:34

The sequel to Castles and Dragons, The Dragon’s Lair tells the tale of the knights’ search for the dragon’s whereabouts, using a sturdy tune and countermelody in C minor to describe their confidence and swagger. Once the dragon is spotted, the music becomes faster and more accented as the knights engage the dragon in a fierce battle. Once the dragon is vanquished, the main theme returns as the knights celebrate their victory. The piece contains plenty of percussion parts to keep your players busy, and uses a friendly key structure to facilitate student progress on accents and playing complete phrases. Duration: 2:45

Travel back in time to revisit the ancient legends of the dragon in this powerful new work for young bands. Filled with driving rhythms and strong, accented lines, this piece is a surefire student and audience favourite. Many cultures around the world share a fascination with their own stories of dragons, and this music brings that fascination to the musical stage. Duration: 1:0)

Experience the merry sounds of Olde England in this easy, but authentic sounding work in the Renaissance style. Written in a mixture of mixolydian and major tonalities, this piece is a great tool for exposing students to the sounds and traditions of an essential time in musical history. This is an excellent selection for working on dynamic control and playing with delicacy. Duration: 2:00

This regal theme is presented three times but is interrupted by two contrasting statements. Scored in rondo form, Flourish for Winds and Percussion is packed with a variety of tonal colors and is certain to be a welcomed piece on your beginner’s program. Bravo! Duration: 1:53

Break out the tools for Garage Band. Literally! With featured parts for hammer, ratchet and electric drill, this simple to assemble and a super choice to show your band with a little bit of a twist. Duration: 1:29

Rock and roll for your beginners—you bet! This Mick Jagger and Keith Richards pop hit will have the whole audience rocking. The melody is quite familiar but falls perfectly in the fingers for beginners. A real winner! Duration: 2:17

Cleverly written with creative effects and an energetic style, Richard Saucedo has created a unique-sounding original for very young players that's guaranteed to be a blast to perform. Duration: 2:15

The Gymnopedies, originally written for piano, are French composer Erik Satie’s most famous works. In traditional Satie style, Gymnopedie No. 1 is characterized with a joyously simple melody in 3/4 time with a rich harmonic structure that is not technically demanding. A new classic arrangement at the beginning level! Duration: 2:39

Every young band wants to rock. This is the perfect arrangement to teach the band about articulation and style. A trumpet solo and a drumset solo with an optional trade-off with congas, tom-toms, bongos (or whatever is available) allow the band to feature their “star” players. Young bands will love to get into the groove of this catchy tune. Rock on! Duration: 3:10

The Holly and the Ivy is a beautiful setting of an old favourite that will showcase developing bands. The simple tune and lush harmony are accomplished within a modest range, providing the opportunity to focus on musical expression. The Holly and the Ivy is a nice change of pace and a great way to round off your Christmas concert. Duration: 1:55

Hunter’s Mountain is an aggressive beginning band composition that was written to capture the energy and imagination of young musicians. With very limited demands, this composition offers young players a chance to perform with success in their early stage of development! Only the first six notes of the B-flat concert scale are utilized. Duration: 1:45

The regal “Taps” interspersed with all the flowing elegance of “America the Beautiful” results in a stunning gallant work for your beginners. Michael Story’s The Legacy of Heroes (In Memory of Our Fallen Soldiers) is an awe-inspiring work. Duration: 2:14

Written 60 years ago, this delightful holiday melody has been performed by all the greats including Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Now your first year band students can join those great performers and boost your holiday sprits with Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Duration: 1:34

The Eagles are back! This is the title track from their most recent record-selling compact disk and it fits in the beginning band repertoire just right. A deliberate rock beat is the basis on which this soulful tune is built. Solidly scored and in a comfortable range. Duration: 2:46

Franz Joseph Haydn’s lovely musical setting of “Come, My Soul, Thou Must Be Awakening” has been scored for beginners in 3/4 time. The flowing melody is tuneful and will add to the musicality of your ensemble. First stated by the upper woodwinds, the full band builds to an emotional conclusion. Breathtaking! Duration: 2:19

Kate Bush composed this pleasant ballad for The Golden Compass film score. The first in the trilogy, this theme is fluid and richly harmonized. A lush addition to enhance the musicality of your beginning band! Duration: 3:00

Written for the beginning band’s very first concert, this playful tune uses only five notes (the first five notes learned in most band methods) with rhythms no faster than a quarter-note in scale-wise patterns that will build technique and provide a great performance experience. Your beginners will enjoy showing off their newly learned skills with this five-note showpiece. Duration: 1:45

“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Santa had dropped through the chimney with care, hoping the children would be up the stairs. He placed all the toys round the tree with delight, and wiggled his nose at the stroke of midnight. The toys came alive and marched round and round, singing and dancing to holiday sounds.” So begins Robert W. Smith’s program notes. Need more be said? Here is that “Smith creativity” at its finest! Duration: 2:31

Treat your beginners to a fresh sounding original march that will make them shine on their very first concert. All winds play their first six notes taught except for the clarinets who also play their low B. Eighth-notes are carefully presented as pairs of repeating pitches, and the snare drum part is all single strokes playing interesting eighth-note patterns. Duration: 1:50

A vigorous combination of the Paso Doble and the Flamenco, Paso Flamenco has an intense modal quality that’s a snap to rehearse. The distinct percussive sounds are joined with the charismatic melody. Great opportunities for exploring rhythmic accuracy in a very musical work. A real attention-getter! Duration: 1:52

Looking for a fresh-sounding easy overture with some bite and musical depth? This bold work from John Moss could be just the one for your band. Constructed using a fast-slow-fast design, the transitions are carefully planned and there are interesting parts for all sections, including percussion. Duration: 2:4

Quasars are the brightest observable objects in the universe, created by super-massive black holes in the centers of galaxies. This piece attempts to musically portray the awe of the vastness of our universe, and the reflective middle section explores the wonder each of us has when viewing the nighttime sky. Duartion: 2:25

For years, mankind has been fascinated by the rings that surround the second largest planet in our solar system. In this well-crafted original work, Michael Story musically captures the mystery and immense beauty of these magnificent celestial phenomena. Solid scoring allows no exposed sections, adding security for your musicians and for their performances of this well-paced composition. Duration: 2:21

A River Trilogy provides a wonderful opportunity for first year bands to work on legato style. After an original introduction, the full ensemble plays the African-American spiritual “Deep River.” A clarinet and flute duet ushers in the early English folk song “The Water is Wide,” and the full band concludes with a lovely treatment of the American classic “Shenandoah.” Duration: 2:15

First the groove is established, then the clarinets introduce this familiar melody, followed by the rest of the ensemble joining in, with the percussion and low brass rocking in the background. A wonderful holiday choice for your first year ensemble to play after only a few months of instruction! Duration: 1:53

Your students will love how mature they can sound on this seafaring journey! Seafarer’s Hymn gives the developing band a chance to shine while getting a great introduction to lyrical playing. Featuring brass and woodwind choirs, this piece gives everyone a chance to play the melody and also contains enough parts to keep the percussion section involved! Duration: 2:00

The most-revered Leroy Anderson tune of all time is finally scored for the beginning level. All the tricky rhythms and articulations have been distilled for this level but the charming melody is in tact to greet the holiday season with renewed energy! Duration: 2:29

Experience the action and adventures of an international agent in Spy Games! This “thriller” will have your students and audience members alike on the edge of their seats. A high-energy choice but solidly scored and very playable at the beginning level. Duration: 1:58

Here is an arrangement that sounds great even for the youngest bands and won’t take a lot of rehearsal time to prepare! Duration: 1:10

Although this outstanding arrangement is accessible by even very young bands, every section has the melody at various times, and each variation is represented with a different texture and accompaniment, keeping the lively dance tune fresh and invigorating as the piece catapults toward the surprise presto ending! Thoughtful use of percussion adds to the colorful scoring. Students will love this high-energy delight from the Renaissance era. Duration: 1:20

Everybody gets to join the fun in this dynamic new rock chart! Blues scale melodies alternate over a driving bass line to a funky rhythmic groove, leading to an exciting call and response, pitting brass against woodwinds, as your percussion section rocks out! Your band will love rehearsing and performing it – let them show your audience that This Band Rocks! Duration: 2:25

Includes: Ukrainian Bell Carol; Ding, Dong Merrily on High; Jingle Bells. Duration 3:00

Includes: O Come, O Come Emmanuel; O Come Rejoicing; O Come All Ye Faithful. Duration: 2:39

Winter Fun is a sure winner for that very first Christmas concert. An original melody is combined with “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls” and “Over the River and Through the Woods.” Everyone in the band gets to play the melody and join in the holiday fun. Duration: 1:40

As performed by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, this Domingo Samudio tune will be all the rage. The Michael Story rendition has all the energy of the original but scored for beginners. A rousing choice! Duration: 1:57