Kjos Music

As band directors in the Duncanville Independent School District (SW of Dallas, TX) Richard Williams and Jeff King were continually looking for materials that would help them achieve the musical goals they set for their band students. Like many band directors, they found themselves writing numerous hand-outs covering basic warm-ups, scales, and technical exercises. Over the years they have refined, edited, and organized their classroom materials into Foundations For Superior Performance.

This series is designed to help organize the daily rehearsal and to improve the overall performance level of the ensemble. From as little as five minutes a day, to forty-five minutes a day, this series offers the flexibility and options to fit any particular band situation. It also provides the director with the resources to meet each student on his or her own level while challenging them to reach the next level.

By using Foundations For Superior Performance, the following areas can be improved:

Sound (tone production).
Articulation (styles and concepts).
Greater flexibility, agility and, endurance.
Increased range.
Individual and ensemble listening skills.
Technique in all twelve major and minor keys.
Basic understanding of music theory.

This method book helps to organize the daily rehearsal and improve the overall performance level of the ensemble. From as little as five minutes a day to forty-five minutes a day, this book offers the flexibility and options to fit any particular band situation for year two throughout high school. It also provides the director with the resources to meet each student on his or her own level while challenging them to reach the next level.

Foundations For Superior Performance includes:

Warm-Ups articulation exercises, long tones, and progressive brass lip slurs and woodwind exercises to be played simultaneously.
Chorales and Tuning Exercises interval tuning, chord tuning, and chorales in the eight main concert band keys.
Technique major and minor scales, mini-scales, scale patterns, scales in thirds, interval studies, and triad and chord studies in all 12 keys
Plus one octave scales and arpeggios, full range scales, chromatic scales, major arpeggios and inversions, and advanced fingering charts.
Percussion Book Practical exercises for mallets, snare drum, auxiliary percussion, and timpani. 96 pages.
By using Foundations For Superior Performance, the following areas can be improved:

Sound (tone production).
Articulation (styles and concepts).
Greater flexibility, agility, and endurance.
Increased range.
Individual and ensemble listening skills
Technique in all twelve major and minor keys.
Basic understanding of music theory.