A New Method
“Let’s Play!” is an innovative, new beginning band method book that’s completely free for both students and teachers. Print it out or access instantly
from any device.
Easy
On any device you can go to method.band and in one click your class will again be on the same page. No passwords or book codes to remember, just easy access to free, professional quality pdf files.
Free
The sheet music printed in each book is public domain. After you open the book on your device, click the download button and print as many copies as you need for your classroom.
Pedagogy
Let’s Play! is built on many of the same concepts from our most highly regarded method books. Students are also guided through a greater variety of selections that first feature longer sounds to promote tone production.
About “Let’s Play!”
No Book, No Problem
One of the most common challenges beginning band directors face is how to navigate a lesson when students don’t have a method book for one reason or another. After almost twenty years of teaching, I found myself asking “Why are we charging students for publications filled with public domain music?”
So with a little help from my friends I started creating the Let’s Play! Method Book. This method is based on the same proven pedagogical strategies employed in all our favorite method books, and it’s full of public domain music that’s completely free for both you and your students.
Derrick Maxey
SongBird Publishing LLC
Innovation In Music Education
Most of our favorite band method books have gone decades with practically no technological innovation. And what little innovation they do implement is often parked behind a paywall. Let’s Play! seeks to take the same quality pedagogy band directors have come to trust, and publish it for a new era.
Quality
Along the way, students are introduced to easy arrangements of significant composers such as Samuel Barber, J.S. Bach and even jazz composers such as Duke Ellington or Billie Holiday.
QR Play Button
Scan the QR Code before each selection to be taken to a fun, play along track. At the end of each video is a “background only” version.
Pop Connection
Let’s Play! strives to meet students where they are by including links to easy, relevant pop arrangements that reinforce the concepts introduced on each page
Let’s Play! Band Method
New Method. New Era
Let’s Play! doesn’t make you create an account, or subscribe you to yet another
e-mail subscription. There are no passwords to remember and no student will have to create any kind of account before you can start your first lesson. Just go to method.band, hit print, or just have students play straight from their iPad, Chromebook or any other internet device.
Are you a Band Director using “Let’s Play”?
Visit the Director Page for special play along tracks perfect for performances or rehearsals. Also take a brief survey to help future editions of the method book.