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UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Unsure/Discouraged on 11/22/2024, 5:09 pm

I have a 7th grade group that is very behind... as in we have been working in the beginner book all year and some students still are unable to play notes/understand rhythms. Does anyone have any suggestions for easy/attainable Grade 1 pieces and marches? Our percussion section is not very strong (cannot keep a steady beat) so anything that does not feature that section would be preferred. I have relatively strong saxophones and clarinets but trumpets and trombones are weak sections and I only have 2 flutes and they are not strong players, even though they are trying really hard. At this point, I don't know if it would be a good idea to even take them to contest but I want to have some music in case they are able to pull it together in time.

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Suggestions on 11/30/2024, 3:20 pm, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Marches:
Premiere March by Compello
Synergy March by Owens
Code of Conduct March by Hilliard

UIL grade 1:
Autumn Fanfare by Rogers
Great Beginnings by Kamuf
To Reach the Summit by Oare
To a New Beginning by Swearingen
House of Lords by Rogers

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Quick Step on 11/29/2024, 10:25 am, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Synergy March by Owens

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by MMSax on 11/28/2024, 2:45 pm, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Union Station March - Colquitt
Monticello March - Rhodes

Solid grade 1 marches, only 1 trpt part, 1 cl part, 1 tbn-btn-bsn part. Limited perc.

both available at JW Pepper.

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Trombone on 11/25/2024, 6:42 pm, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Gallant March by Sweeney is very doable. If you get it learned fast enough, hopefully it will give you time to work on the other songs. Good Luck to you!!!

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Okay... on 11/25/2024, 12:15 pm, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Blue Ribbon March, O'Reilly & Feldstien, is probably the easiest march you can come up with. It is OOP, so you're going to have to ask around if you don't already have it. Spitfire is also a good, easy march (and in print)...but it isn't as easy as Blue Ribbon.

Acropolis
Wings to the Mind
Strength and Honor

Those three are probably your best bet from the list. Dorian Chant could also work...but you have to know your kids as it is not as easy as the other three.

Contrary to popular belief, Dance Celebration is NOT easy, let alone one of the easiest things on the list. There are at least 5 independent rhythmic lines going on in this piece all at once. If you've got sections with issues regarding rhythms, steady beats, and confidence with independent lines...this piece WILL expose you.

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by DesertJazz on 11/23/2024, 11:07 am, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Acropolis
Dorian Chant
Dance Celebration

Those are probably the three easiest things on the list.

See if you can find an easy flex band style march that works for your kids that will be more limited in parts. (You can't use the flex for UIL list pieces according to what we've been told, but a march is fair game.)

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Suggestion on 11/25/2024, 9:49 am, in reply to "Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

I would recommend Ballet of Spring. Repetitive, simple, easy melody. Probably easier than Dance Celebration.

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Warhawk on 11/23/2024, 10:40 am, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Pride of America by William Owens.

Re: UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions

Posted by Smalltown on 11/23/2024, 10:24 am, in reply to "UIL Grade 1/March Suggestions"

Double altos with low brass. Flutes with clarinets. Takes some pressure of the other sections. Move alto to tenor. Gives more options.

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