Well, I finally ordered myself a tuner yesterday. It was cheaper than I expected, and I decided to check out a series of books recommended to me by my section leader not too long ago. The Essential Elements series.
I went ahead and ordered this too, since it was only about $8 and shipped with a dvd and cd-rom with some software including Finale NotePad (alone worth $10).
So yeah, anyone have any idea how good this book really is? Also if anyone is curious, I bought the Korg CA-30 Chromatic Tuner.
First of all, I have that tuner. I use it for tuba, guitar, bass, everything. It's fantastic!
Second, Essential Elements is a fine set of books, in my humble opinion. They're what I used to teach myself tuba over the summer before my junior year of high school, and I picked it up quite fast. The CD helped pretty well, too, since i was adjusting from saxophone. It helped to train my ear to hear (and appreciate) low register and match pitches effectively. Without the CD, it would've been days before I coudl play a solid low Bb. The same was true for a friend of mine who switched from trumpet back in middle school.
Chris Fenner
1918 Keefer Eb
191? Keefer BBb Helicon
I used to use it when I taught middle school band. I never used book 1. With the middle school kids, I started with book 2, as the first few pages were a review (if i remember correctly) of basic materials from book 1 (or any other beginning band method.) With all of the other stuff involved in teaching middle school band, we couldn't work out of the book every week. When the kids finished that book, I went to various music I copied. I never used book 3, as I found the kids needed more basic review of similar basic material, rather than to delve into what book 3 offered - compound meter, mixed meter, key signatures that most of them wouldn't need yet.
I don't know what level player you are, but book 2 is fine for an intermediate player. For an advanced high school player, I would move on to the Rubank Advanced Method rather than use ES book 3.
Lucky for me, my friend gave me book 2, cause he's basically done with it. I haven't really had time to sit down with it and really get in depth with it. I decided to order book 1 since I'm a beginner too.
I don't really need to learn to read music, cause I taught myself that with the master theory books 1&2. I'm sure the if the 1st book did cover how to read music, it wouldn't go much farther if any than M.T. 1&2. Either way it was only $8 so not much to lose.
TubaRay wrote:I would personally recommend Essential Elements 2000. I believe that's the name. It is quite similar to the original book, but I like it better.
Find a copy of Kjos master method for band. it was the protype book for all the modern methods. its still a great book and still $3.45 ea list it has everything you need to succeded
For your situation, I think Essential Elements will work fine. One of the teachers in my district uses it, and he has a lot of success with it. I find that book 1 moves a little too fast for most of my beginners (4th grade), and prefer to use Standard of Excellence...it moves a bit slower, and is (in my opinion) more thorough. That's great for younger kids, but for you, especially since you aid you can already read music a bit, is not necessary. Good luck!!!
I'd chip in for the EE book 2; that is what I ended up with when I started playing euphonium as a new to me instrument 3 years ago. I have also found that the Rubank Elementary Method Book is a pretty good one, at least for both tuba and euphonium. For some reason, the trumpet one really isn't the same, and hasn't been as helpful for my clarinet playing switching to trumpet partner.
Ally"chipping in with the hobbiest two cents"House
