Essential Elements for Band
Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements for Band just got an update! It has been meticulously redesigned to improve the student learning experience and lighten the teacher’s load. While the new updates are exciting, you will find that it is the same great method, but with new music and more online resources.
Don’t toss those old editions! The new Essential Elements books are compatible with EE 2000 and newer editions!
Teachers will love the added resources meant to address common friction points experienced with each instrument. Students will love online access to today’s pop songs arranged for their instruments and level of playing.
What's Been Added?
- 200+ professionally recorded videos online with Essential Elements veteran teachers
- 50 new copyrighted pop songs available online across all levels
- 3 new song replacements
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Five Stars for Essential Elements for Band from Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
“Hal Leonard’s award-winning beginning band method, Essential Elements,” has long been a cornerstone #1 choice of band directors across the country and around the world. It continues to be a favorite mainstay based on the proven sequential pedagogy focusing on the most efficient and effective curricular highway to success for the young artists who are entering the lifetime journey of quality music making.
…and NOW, a new and exciting benefit package has been added to Essential Elements for Band including expanded video support materials created and shared by the iconic music educators who quantified the tried-and-true “tricks-of-the-trade” to support the key challenges for each instrument. You and your students can walk through the process with the master teacher right in your own band room. In addition, you will find a library of Bonus Songs: pop arrangements of the familiar tunes-of-the day; ’tis the foundation of musical inspiration for the new artists. The add-on options are endless. The best-of-the-best has just become “even better.”
The author team is thrilled to share this grand news with you; the real winners will be your students who will stand proudly in the spotlight-of-performance as they STRIKE UP THE BAND!”
Dr. Charles Menghini, Co-Author, Essential Elements for Band
“The Essential Elements Method for Band has been the gold standard for band method books for over 25 years. Its proven pedagogical approach gives you the flexibility to teach your way while accommodating various class schedules. The program's goal has always been to provide teachers and students with exceptional materials and resources, including Essential Elements Interactive—a free feature included with every book. Now, Hal Leonard and Essential Elements have taken this method a step further with a new edition that includes minor updates and additions, all while remaining fully compatible with previous editions. Experience the best of both worlds with the Essential Elements Method for Band—the world’s leading band method.”
Erin Cole Steele, Clinical Assistant Professor at Arizona State University
“Essential Elements continues to set the standard for band method books. Each edition improves upon the last, making it an invaluable resource for both students and directors alike. I’m particularly impressed with the expanded video content. These videos, created by experienced teachers with real classroom experience, effectively demonstrate the best methods for teaching specific instruments. They explain concepts that are often easier to grasp visually, making them invaluable for beginners. The updated photography, featuring real teachers and students using Essential Elements, adds authenticity and relatability, making the material even more engaging. Additionally, the inclusion of pop arrangements keeps students motivated and excited about their learning. Overall, Essential Elements continues to enhance and elevate the student learning experience!”
Scott Sheehan, Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School
“Essential Elements has been an industry standard for decades helping music educators unlock their students’ musical identities. The newest edition of Essential Elements connects the tried and true fundamentals of learning to play an instrument with the latest technology, offering a mix of classic favorites along with several bonus songs featuring some of today’s hits. Essential Elements is the complete band method package that allows students to rehearse as full ensemble, collaborate in chamber groups, or grow and develop their individual skills. In addition to the play-along background tracks, the online resources offer a recording studio for assignments and assessments, a digital practice log, and numerous helpful videos that share tips for improving technique to address some of the pinch points that students might encounter. As a music educator, advocate, and leader with nearly three decades of experience, I can personally attestto the difference that music has to change students’ lives through self-discovery, creative expression, andcommunity building. No matter the experience, Essential Elements is designed to help students harness their musical superpowers and discover the transformative experience that only music can provide.”
Use previous Essential Elements editions with the new version for a smooth classroom transition. The new edition has the same song and page numbers.
What's New:
- New color photos
- Proper posture photos with young musicians
- Proper hand positions clearly shown
- Instrument assembly photos
Book 1, Trumpet
Book 1, Flute
Hover over a number to see what's new
Trombone Book 1 (Current Edition)
Trombone Book 1 (New Edition)
We are pleased to introduce a few new selections to replace songs with a troubled past. Students will love these fun new songs.
Hundreds of new videos have been added to the online library across all instruments. These videos are recorded by real life teachers who have used Essential Elements for years with their students. These videos are instrument-specific and address various friction points that can creep up, especially in group instruction settings.
- Slurring on the trombone
- Going over the break on the clarinet
- Flicking on the bassoon
- Right-hand placement on the F horn
- Bis B-flat on the saxophone
- Forked F on the oboe
- Using the third valve slide on the trumpet
- Cleaner articulations on the tuba
- Over 50 percussion videos! Tips on the tambourine, timpani, bass drum, triangle, sleigh bells, cymbals, snare drum, claves, mallets, etc.
All videos will be available to stream online through the purchase of each method book.
Recent, popular Bonus Songs will be available online on Essential Elements Interactive that are pedagogically appropriate for what the student has learned at various points in the books. Students will be able to play familiar parts of the most recent pop songs from artists like Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and more! All are played in comfortable keys and with notes and rhythms they have already learned.
- Pedagogically appropriate
- Play familiar parts of the most recent songs
- Comfortable keys
- Notes and rhythms students have already learned
drivers license
by Olivia Rodrigo
Good Luck, Babe!
by Chappell Roan
I Ain’t Worried(from Top Gun Maverick)
by OneRepublic
What Was I Made For?(from Barbie)
by Billie Eilish
Conductor Book
HL00870242
Student Books
- Flute 00870243
- Oboe 00870244
- Bassoon 00870245
- Bb Clarinet 00870246
- Eb Alto Clarinet 00870247
- Bb Bass Clarinet 00870248
- Eb Alto Sax 00870249
- Bb Tenor Sax 00870250
- Eb Baritone Sax 00870251
- Bb Trumpet 00870252
- F Horn 00870253
- Trombone 00870254
- Baritone B.C. 00870255
- Baritone T.C. 00870256
- Tuba in C (B.C.) 00870257
- Electric Bass 00870258
- Percussion/Keyboard Percussion 00870259
Conductor Score
HL00870316
Student Books
- Flute 00870317
- Oboe 00870318
- Bassoon 00870319
- Bb Clarinet 00870320
- Eb Alto Clarinet 00870321
- Bb Bass Clarinet 00870322
- Eb Alto Sax 00870323
- Bb Tenor Sax 00870324
- Eb Baritone Sax 00870325
- Bb Trumpet 00870326
- F Horn 00870327
- Trombone 00870328
- Baritone B.C. 00870329
- Baritone T.C. 00870330
- Tuba in C (B.C.) 00870331
- Electric Bass 00870332
- Percussion/Keyboard Percussion 00870333
Conductor Score
HL00870334
Student Books
- Flute 00870335
- Oboe 00870336
- Bassoon 00870337
- Bb Clarinet 00870338
- Eb Alto Clarinet 00870339
- Bb Bass Clarinet 00870340
- Eb Alto Sax 00870341
- Bb Tenor Sax 00870342
- Eb Baritone Sax 00870343
- Bb Trumpet 00870344
- F Horn 00870345
- Trombone 00870346
- Baritone B.C. 00870347
- Baritone T.C. 00870348
- Tuba in C (B.C.) 00870349
- Electric Bass 00870350
- Percussion/Keyboard Percussion 00870351
- Enhanced Learning System
- Optimum reinforced learning
- Theory, History, Cross-Curriculum and Creativity
- Daily Warm-Ups & Rubank® Studies
- 12 Full Band Arrangements
- Rhythm Studies
- Access to Bonus Songs
- Instrument-specific instructional videos
- Book 1 review section
- EE features continued and expanded
- Individual studies for each instrument
- Rubank® Studies and solo for each instrument
- Combined percussion book (drums and keyboard)
- Large, clear fingering charts
- Progress and practice charts
- Concise, easy-to-use conductor book
- Access to Bonus Songs
- Instrument-specific instructional videos
- Individual studies
- Key-centered system
- Book 2 continuation
- Special studies section
- Woodwind trill charts and brass lip slur studies
- Large, clear, full-range fingering charts
- Practice record
- Concise, easy-to-use Conductor Book
- Access to Bonus Songs
The new video lessons and Bonus Songs arrangements will be available online at essentialelementsinteractive.com
- Can my students still use the older Essential Elements version? Yes, the new Essential Elements books are compatible with older versions, including EE2000 and newer. The new editions have the same song and page numbers.
- Why is Hal Leonard updating the Essential Elements series? As Hal Leonard continues to expand its offerings to digital platforms, it became imperative to update much of the imagery, video lessons, and the ever-expanding pop repertoire that can only be found with us! Students can play the current top pop music with their Essential Elements purchase and learn from the best method book on the market beyond their physical books.
- How can I access the new online videos and pop arrangements? The new video lessons and Bonus Songs arrangements will be available online at essentialelementsinteractive.com.
- Will I have to pay for a new subscription to access the new content? How often? No. All Essential Elements online resources will be available at no additional cost toEssential Elements method book customers.