TMEA February 16 2015
What a great first experience I had doing a booth at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention last week. I got to meet so many nice people who seemed genuinely excited about MRNS Music's solo and sightreading offerings. My sister-in-law (the greatest convention floor wrangler ever!) commmented on how nice all the teachers were that she met. That is one of the things that makes this profession so rewarding:-)
There are 12 solos in the Scenes from the Cape collection (11 for some instruments) and they are available for Trumpet, Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Trombone and Euphonium right now. They will be available for Oboe, Bassoon, Horn, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet and Tuba by the end of March.
A lot of people I met at the booth were so interested in the 40 Days of Sightreading book. It's the book I always wanted when I was a band director but didn't have time to write it. 160 eight measure unison sightreading etudes for full band. There are three etudes on each page, one each in the key of F, Bb and Eb. The fourth etude is what I call the "Sightreading of Pain." Its eight measures of sightreading that doesn't make sense...on purpose. It makes the students use their eyes and not be able to use any guess work. The kids love them and they make great challenge lines. Sightreading is kind of a passion of mine, so if you need more material, I encourage you to check it out!