The CMS Band program provides students an opportunity to develop their musical skills throughout the entire school year. Advanced Band will continue working throughout the year out of the following book: Essential Elements for Band. The content in this book is designed to build students’ music fundamentals, both individually and as a group. All students will have the opportunity to review these fundamentals and strengthen their playing technique, focusing on aspects such as blend, balance, tone, and intonation. Additionally, students will learn more advanced rhythms, articulations, and dynamics. Within the first month of school, students who need to borrow an Essential Elements book from the class set will check one out with me, according to their instrument. This book will be assigned to them during the year until they are able to purchase their own book to keep at home. Once a student has their own book, they must check back in the book they have borrowed from the class set. If the book has not been taken care of and is in poor condition, or has been written in, there is a replacement fee of $10. It is recommended that students purchase their own books so that they may write in the book and practice through them any time during the year. Books may be found under Music Resources.

Essential Elements for Band is a comprehensive band method book that will allow each musician to build their musical skills by means of scaffolded instruction. Through its focus on music fundamentals, this book will continue to help students in Advanced Band grow and become more confident on their instruments; it will provide the means for students to rehearse and perform more complex levels of music literature and also earn placement into a high school music program.