IM4Band, Trombone Book 2 [Paperback]

Gloria Musser (Author), Bill Musser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2001

The new INTERNATIONAL METHOD FOR BAND (IM4 BAND), is a heterogeneous/homogeneous band method comprised of three progressive books which were formulated and thoroughly tested by a husband and wife team who have devoted many years to teaching instrumental music. These books were especially written to be used with mixed groups or in classrooms with the same instruments.

The premise for our method is basically "Learning Through LOGIC and UNDERSTANDING". It is easy to learn when you understand the "what" and "why" of the materials.

IM4Band is designed so children develop an understanding of what they are doing so they can apply it where necessary. Children who understand learn much more efficiently, and in the long run make the teachers' job a bit less repetitive. It is amazing how many children are molded in 2/4 and 4/4 time signatures, then when they are confronted with a selection of music that is in 2/8, or 6/4, they don't know what to do because they never developed an understanding of how time signatures work. Children learn to add before they learn to subtract or divide.

Most other methods title every piece of music in the book. We are attempting to develop acute listening skills in children through the identification of untitled melodies. Too often we do not "hear" what we are playing. When you tape a student's lesson then play it back afterwards, what are the most general remarks? "Oh, that was terrible", or "Do I really sound like that?" -- Too often they are "playing" but not "hearing."

In conjunction with the IM4 BAND books is a series of two IM4 BAND DUET BOOKS, which progress at precisely the same pace as the lesson books. The duet books are all written for heterogeneous, as well as homogeneous groups; they may be used by any combination of instruments.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...fine educational tool for beginning-advanced players. ...some truly instructive ideas. Wish I had your book when I was teaching. -- Felix Mayerhofer, Ret. Band Director, Palmdale, CA

...glad you made me aware of a publication that far outranks some of the stuff I used to deal with. -- Ralph Harrison, Band Director, Ret., Stroudsburg, PA

...serious, no-nonsense publication - includes much vital information others overlook, ...great education-based, factual, logical, informative, readily perceivable format. -- Ralph Harrison, Band Director, Ret., Stroudsburg, PA

About the Author

Willard I. Musser, respected teacher, conductor, clinician, educator and author has been widely acclaimed for his unique musical personality which inspires the highest standards of performance. Mr. Musser's foremost honors include guest conductor throughout Europe and Canada. He has recorded and broadcast over Radio Budapest with the Hungarian Wind Orchestra.

Mr. Musser received his baccalaureate and master's degrees from Ithaca College. He pursued further graduate study at Albright College (Reading, Pa.) and Temple University. After an early career in the secondary schools of Pennsylvania and New York he was appointed Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands and Instrumental Methods at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. In 1956 Bill was appointed Professor of Music at State University College of New York at Potsdam, where he founded the Crane Wind Ensemble. While under his direction the ensemble rose to national attention. Bill has since been promoted to the status of Professor Emeritus by the Board of Trustees of the State University College of New York.

After serving the New York State School Music Association as a member of its executive council and as vice-president, Bill was elected President of the Association in 1965. He has also served on the Regents Scholarship Committee, as President of the Eastern Division of the MENC, is a past President of the Association of Concert Bands of America, a member of the College Band Directors National Association, and is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. Alfred, Belwin/Mills, Award, Kendor, Neil Kjos and Manduca Music Publication have published Mr. Musser's editions. The John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded Mr. Musser the "Louis Sudler Award of Merit."

Gloria Musser, Bill's wife, is a graduate of Newark Valley Central School in Newark Valley, New York, and the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam. After graduation, Mrs. Musser accepted the position of Director of Instrumental Music at St. Regis Falls Central School in New York where she continued until she opened a private music studio in Clayton, New York, where she and her husband presently reside.

Many of Mrs. Musser's former private students are now highly successful and respected professional musicians and music teachers throughout the United States. The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts has awarded Mrs. Musser a certificate for "encouraging and supporting students recognized for their exceptional artistic acnievement."

Mrs. Musser also has instrumental methods and solos published by various publishers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pocono Mt. Music Publishing, Inc. (November 15, 2001)
• ISBN-10: 1589180623
• ISBN-13: 978-1589180628
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,528,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)