a song for friends
Larry Daehn - Grade 1
About the music
A Song for Friends was written especially for middle school bands. Modest instrumental ranges and easy phrases allow young players to produce their finest tone quality.
Tempo & style
Medium Slow (QN=72)
Ranges
Flute
|
Clarinet 1
|
Clarinet 2
|
Trumpet
|
Trombone
|
instrumentation
WOODWIND
Flute/Oboe Clarinet 1-2 Bass Clarinet Bassoon Alto Sax Tenor Sax Baritone Sax |
BRASS
Cornet French Horn Trombone Baritone Tuba |
PERCUSSION
Bells Suspended Cymbal Triangle |
teaching concept categories
teaching considerations
With the extremely limited technical demands of this piece, emphasis on tone production, melodic and accompaniment balance, phrasing, slurring, dynamics, and overall musicality and emotion can be the primary focus. The concept of four-bar phrasing should be emphasized from the beginning. Have students mark an "x" above the climactic point of the phrase. When teaching about the concept of a musical phrase, considering using the analogy of a wave--the water swells up and at the peak crashes with white foam and gradually glides onto the shore just as another waves is about to build. Just as with phrases, waves come in various sizes. Not every phrase should be emphasized equally.
The piece also works well as part of the band's daily warm-up.
The piece also works well as part of the band's daily warm-up.