The Accent on Achievement method teaches your band all the fundamentals for a solid musical background. All concepts are introduced in a logical sequence. Click here for links to charts displaying the sequence in which concepts are introduced. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this page.

Color Coding System
Specialized Individual Books
Color Photos
Free CD with every Book 1
Theory
Full Band Arrangements
Listening and Creativity are Encouraged
National Standards

Color Coding System
The Accent on Achievement color coding system streamlines the introduction of new material. Used in Books 1 and 2, this approach highlights material in a color-coded box at the top of each page where the concept first appears. In addition, the first time the new item is used in the music, it is shaded in the corresponding color. In this way a visual link is established between the new learning and its application. For consistency, the presentation of new material follows the color coding outlined below.

New notes are always shown in yellow. Key signatures and time signatures are always shown in green. New rhythmic values are always shown in blue. New terms are shown in either purple or red.	Click image to enlarge

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Specialized Individual Books

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While the student books are designed for learning in a band class, each of the books contains material specifically geared towards each individual instrument. Every few pages, you'll find the phrase "Accent on…" These are specialized technical exercises designed to address the specific technical problems for each instrument. With the exception of the percussion book, no new notes, rhythms or concepts are introduced in these exercises so that materials previously learned can be effectively reinforced. For additional drills, pages 42-43 of each student book contain expanded technical exercises including alternate fingerings and slide positions. Each book also contains a solo with piano accompaniment suitable for performance at concerts, recitals or festivals.

The Oboe and French Horn books contain extra optional lessons which are arranged in a more comfortable range of the instrument. These lessons can be used outside of regular band rehearsal to help students to play with more confidence.

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Color Photos
Proper playing positions and instrument assembly are pictured in each student book by real middle school children. There is a full-color photo of a boy and a girl playing the instrument in every book. One photo shows the student in proper playing position with tips on correct posture. The other photo shows a close up of the student and includes material on forming the correct embouchure. In addition, the instrument is pictured alone with the parts of the instrument clearly labeled.

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Free CD with every Book 1
An enhanced CD accompaniment is included with every Book 1. This CD contains audio tracks for all the music in Accent on Achievement, Book 1 through line 42, with the exception of some of the "Accent on…" exercises and the Accent on Performance pages. Each line of music is played twice: The first time you will hear the melody played by either trombone, french horn, trumpet, clarinet, flute or alto sax; the second time you will hear only the accompaniment.

The CD also contains a computer program that will run on Mac or Windows-based PCs. The program, Accent on Interactivity, provides General MIDI accompaniments for all the lines in Accent on Achievement, Book 1.

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Theory
Music theory is included throughout the student books. Exercises are at the bottom of every few pages in each of the student books. You'll find them strategically placed to reinforce concepts taught while playing the instrument. Students are drilled on note recognition, fingerings, rhythms and more!

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Full Band Arrangements
You will find five full-band arrangements in Accent on Achievement Book 1. Book 2 contains six arrangements for your band! Book 3 contains 12 chorales, perfect for warm-ups and working on intonation.

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Listening and Creativity are Encouraged
As early as the first page of music, students are taught to listen to others in the band. Other exercises occur every few pages encouraging students to experiment with improvising rhythms, creating orchestrations, improvising, and composing. All techniques are introduced within the context of the lesson making them easy for students and encouraging their creative development.

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National Standards

Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
While singing is not a common activity in most band classes, vocalization does help students with pitch placement, especially for brass instruments. Students are encouraged to sing their music on a neutral syllable (like "Doo") before playing it to help build a good internal sense of pitch.

Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Accent on Achievement provides detailed instruction in the performance of a wide variety of music representing diverse genres and cultures. You'll find a wealth of folk and classical music throughout Books 1 & 2. Text and photographs reinforce good posture, playing position and embouchure.

Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
Students learn how to create their own variations and participate in carefully structured exercises in basic improvisation in pentatonic and major keys, as well as playing by ear.

Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
In a series of creativity exercises, students learn to manipulate the elements of music, including rhythm, dynamics, orchestration and form. This knowledge is then applied in the writing of short compositions, which may then be performed by the students.

Reading and notating music.
Ample opportunity exists throughout the method for the development of music reading skills. Special theory exercises and rhythm drills are incorporated in the student books and in the Teacher's Resource Kit. Students practice notating music as well.

Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
The CD in the Teacher's Resource Kit serves as the basis for a series of listening exercises designed to involve students in describing specific musical events and analyzing the use of the elements of music in musical selections.

Evaluating music and music performances.
Questions are posed throughout the conductor's score that may be used to engage students in a thoughtful evaluation of their performance as well as the performance of others.

Understanding relationships between music, other arts forms, disciplines outside the arts, and music in relation to history and culture.
Reproducible worksheets in the Teacher's Resource Kit provide opportunities for exploring the interrelationship between music and the culture-at-large in a variety of time periods and subject areas. Students will learn about the cultural and historical backgrounds of several musical selections in their book, with tie-ins to related arts and other subjects.

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