Choosing Middle School Band Sheet Music

Perhaps one of the most difficult decisions a middle school band director must make is choosing appropriate music.  Balancing the pedagogical value and the musical integrity of each piece is not a simple task.  In addition, often schools have specific curricular goals which music teachers must be aware.  For example, many elementary schools use various themes throughout the school year such as Black History Month, the Presidents, or Celebrating Patriotic Holidays and it is incumbent upon band directors to choose music that enhances these themes.  Of all these factors, most importantly the music teacher most choose music based on the musical skill level of musicians in the band.
One of the common mistakes many new band directors make, particularly at the middle school level, is choosing music which is too difficult.  I recently adjudicated a band festival in which a small school 7th grade band played a piece with 1st trumpet parts above the staff, exposed low brass parts, and overly technical clarinet parts.  The piece was simply not appropriate for the band and the fault for the low ratings was directly the responsibility of a band director that did not take the time to realistically evaluate the students in the band.
Evaluating the performance level of the students in a band should be the first task of the band director before making any sheet music selections.  I’ve heard it said that a band is only as strong as the weakest player and this may hold some credence, although I personally don’t completely agree.  Perhaps the easiest way to evaluate exactly where the band is in terms of performance level is to use any of  the excellent band methods available on the market today.  Pass out a level 3 book to the most advanced middle school band to discover quickly where the strengths and weaknesses are.  As you play exercises in the book, take notes and record exactly where problems exist.  You will very quickly know what your students can and cannot play and you are ready to move on the the next step of choosing music.
Most music on the market today is rated from grade 1 to grade 5.  Grade 5 music is primarily restricted to college or professional level bands.  Middle school music teachers should be looking at levels 1 and 2.  Generally, level 1 music will be limited to rhythms which include whole, half, quarter and eighth notes.  Trumpet range is limited to notes within the staff.  Clarinets parts do not normally cross the break, although when 2 parts are present, the 1st clarinet may cross the break.
Level 2 music simply expands on level 1.  Rhythms may include sixteenth notes and dotted rhythms.  Some level 2 music also is written in 6/8.  Ranges for brass extend upward one or two notes and clarinets are expected to play over the break.

What universities forget to tell new high school band directors

Picture this:  The school year starts tomorrow and you are the new band director in town.  Guess what?  Your pep band is scheduled to perform in 2 weeks.  No problem you say..but wait.
It is the first first day of class and as you talk to your students about the responsibility of being a dedicated band member,  you discover that between the football team, the volleyball team, the cross country team, and cheerleaders,  80% of your band students can’t perform with the pep band.  As the panic sets in,  you think..oh, I’ll just not perform.  Unfortunately, ‘just not perform’ is not an option. If you think that admin and the community has sympathy for your situation, I’ll sell you a bridge in Brooklyn cheap.  You have to put it together…so where do you start?
Perhaps your most difficult task will be to find pep band music that is playable by your now depleted band.  How do you find band director sheet music for pep band written in such a way that the lead lines which are normally played by trumpets are doubled by other instruments so that the melody is heard even when you are down to 2 trumpet players?  This is not so easy if you limit your search to most pop tune arrangements available today at major publishing houses.  And to further complicate the issue, if you are able to find a suitable title at a publishing house, often the price of printed sheet music is prohibitive.  Remember…you’re the newbie.  It’s not easy to ask your principal for money when you’ve only been on the job for a couple weeks.
One possible solution and a solution that I encourage you to explore is to check out the secondary market of music publishers for appropriate music at cheap prices.  There are several online music firms that offer quality downloadable music at great prices and these firms should not be overlooked.
One firm which stands out is PDF Band Music at https://pdfbandmusic.com.  Their music is instantly downloadable and is cheap. They even offer a complete beginning band system titled Sound Fundamentals at no cost.  Check them out.
Once you survive those first public performances you’ll get the kind of administrative and community support you need to build your program and the memories of those initial problems will fade.  You’ll love being a band director.  It’s a great job.