Excelcia Music Publishing is delighted to announce the release of Easy As 1-2-3: 123 Rhythms, Etudes & Chorales for String Orchestra, an easy-to-use three-step system designed to reinforce daily fundamental development. This efficient, time-saving book is written by experienced music educators, composers, and arrangers, Carol Brittin Chambers and Tyler Arcari. Easy As 1-2-3 contains 123 progressive exercises and is divided into three sections, focusing on Rhythms, Etudes, and Chorales. Designed to aid String Orchestras with technical and musical growth, Easy As 1-2-3 can be used in a myriad of ways.
“Composing music allows us the unique opportunity to travel, meet, and work with String Directors and Orchestras across the country,” says Tyler Arcari, co-author and Director of Music Production and Editing for Excelcia Music Publishing. “A recurring sentiment shared by Directors during those journeys was a need for a new fundamental development book packed with content. As former classroom teachers, Carol and I are especially excited to offer just that with Easy As 1-2-3!”
“Fundamental development is essential because it allows us to establish skills that in turn transfers to all the great music we want to perform,” co-author, arranger, and composer Carol Brittin Chambers emphasizes.
The first section in the book, Rhythms, explores rhythmic patterns without defined pitches across a variety of time signatures. Students may count, clap, sing, or play (on a selected pitch) the exercises in order to strengthen their rhythmic reading skills and sense of time.
Beyond the rhythmic section, the rest of the book introduces fundamental etudes and chorales in eight major keys as well as their relative minor versions in natural, harmonic, and melodic variations.
The second section, Etudes, is divided into two parts. The first part consists of 27 eight-measure technical exercises that are first played in unison for four measures, and then followed by four harmonized measures. The second part of this section consists of ten unison exercises that present far more of a technical challenge.
The third section, Chorales, consists of 41 full chorales in various keys and styles, with multiple chorales for each key in progressing levels of difficulty. The selection of both original and arranged chorales allows for the opportunity for ensembles to gain familiarity with both the contemporary sounds popularized by modern composers, and time-tested works from the past.
Easy As 1-2-3 is available from music retailers, as well as through Excelcia Music Publishing ($34.99 for the conductor book and $9.99 for each student book).
