Need More Flexibility? Introducing New Band and String FLEX Series

flex·i·ble

adjective

1. capable of bending easily without breaking.
2. able to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions.
3. (of a person) ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances.
4. Alfred Music’s all new String Orchestra FLEX options series
5. Alfred Music’s all new Alfred Flex and Belwin Flex Series for complete flexibility of instrumentation!

Are you finding yourself working with ensembles with incomplete or unique instrumentation? Are you working with some groups in person, while others are remote? Are you having to rotate classes? Reduced class sizes are almost a given right now and you have had to undoubtedly remain flexible as you attempt to maneuver through change after change.

The all new flexible instrumentation series, Alfred Flex and Belwin Flex , was created to meet these exact needs! Each series contains a variety of styles and grade levels (Grades ½ through 3+). These newly reimagined pieces are available throughout the Belwin and Alfred Concert Band Catalogs, written by a variety of composers and arrangers, such as Michael Story, Michael Kamuf, Victor López, Chris M. Bernotas, Scott Watson, Vince Gassi, and others.

The pieces and arrangements in this new series have complete flexibility of instrumentation which will allow directors to use them for:

• Full band
• String orchestra
• A mix of band and string instruments
• A mix of woodwind and percussion
• A mix of brass and percussion
• Percussion ensembles
• Mixed chamber ensembles
• Most like-instrument ensembles

Alfred Flex and Belwin Flex both include a Teacher Map with each piece that will help to not only guide the teacher to instrument choices but more importantly, provide a way to document who is assigned to which part. “Flexible Options,” “Suggested Instrumentation,” and “Teacher Part Assignment” spaces are all included, in a clean, clear, and uncluttered layout.

While the common 5-part score looks balanced on paper, it often doesn’t sound that way in the band room, making arrangements often sound hollow or unbalanced. To help address that, a 4-part model for younger bands to help support the lower parts is included—having 4 parts will allow more strength in numbers for the sections that are usually lighter in enrollment. This has also been carefully considered within the writing, ensuring balance and reinforcement between parts.

To help your changing needs throughout the school year, the purchase of these flexible instrumentation series titles include permission to photocopy parts as needed for your ensemble. There is also a percussion audio track available as a free download.

The flexibility of parts and ability to print extra parts for free make this a perfect resource for hybrid or remote teaching— the right tools and music for any situation.

Alfred Flex and Belwin Flex will be made available in SmartMusic , allowing students' practice to be transformed from passive repetition to active learning, giving teachers the ability to monitor and assess student progress while remote teaching. Students will be immediately shown what pitches and rhythms they hit or miss so they know what to work on, and they don't learn their music incorrectly. They can play along to the accompaniment, encouraging at-home practice, while helping you track their progress while teaching remotely.

For more information, visit alfred.com/Flex .