Daniel Gruber

**Update 9/12/25** Added Tenor Sax; fixed some tuba fingerings diagrams **NOW included** Audio backing tracks are now included, both in standard WAV and in iRealPro file formats (my preferred app for accompaniment). The video shows exercise "S" played alongside the iRealPro app (app sold separately). These warmups are an essential supplement to many current method books. They are sequentially designed to provide support for the pivotal notes, fingerings, scales, rhythms, and techniques all you

"How do I make time for improving music literacy when I only have 25 total minutes of instruction time in a class?" Answer: The Word of the Day Powerpoint presentation. Whether you teach general music, band, strings, or whatever else, this will be a valuable resource for your music classroom. This presentation features easy navigation and 37 animated music "words" for presentation to a class. Teachers control when the letters "fall" into place as students identify the right answers. This w

This resource deals with transition between 4 brass instruments: Trumpet (or Baritone T.C.), Trombone, Baritone (B.C.), and TubaWhen teaching students of brass instruments, the need to move from one instrument to another is bound to happen. Whether out of necessity, ability, or simple curiosity, learning an additional/alternate brass instrument is not uncommon. The challenge in that process has two steps: 1.) Take the current knowledge and skills from the instrument in-hand 2.) Find points

Hey everyone! Here is the answer to the dilemma of "Do I grade practice minutes, or not?" With this set of 7 practice guides, you are not grading minutes; you are grading a homework assignment! This set of 7 practice guides aligns with pages 23-41 of the Sound Innovations for Concert Band method book. It is meant to give students a framework for establishing an effective routine and appropriate amount of repetition to learn the material presented in the method. Although the method is referen

"The right note, at the wrong time, is the wrong note." Understanding of rhythms and counting is vital for student success, but teaching time is limited. "Rhythm of the Day" answers the challenge of efficiently teaching rhythm. This is accomplished through: 1. Delivering rhythms and counting using a categorized, organized format 2. Providing excellent, time-saving navigation 3. Flexible format (as much or as little as time allows) 4. Providing group assessment opportunities throughout Covers

Do you want to: -Keep your kids on-task with learning how to play an instrument, even when you are not around? -Have an alternative to grading minutes of practice? -Give parents and guardians a concrete idea of what their children should be doing? These 8 practice guides specifically correlate to the material in Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 1, pages 5-22. It uses no copyrighted material from the text, but does reference page and song numbers to guide a student in what may be conside

This 2023 update includes a improved fingering charts in the "elements" pages, and very mild changes of a couple of rhythms. This groovy piece for young bands is a great way to introduce and reinforce articulation with an easy range. Roll With It is playable after students have reached page 17 in Sound Innovations Book 1. Techniques and notes not yet introduced by this point are introduced via an easy-to-follow "Elements" page, which primes the band for success on the song. Audio recording is

"Trumpets!! That 'B' is played with your middle finger! No flat!" (for the 5th time this week). This worksheet/practice guide/assessment tool is a "deep dive" into accidentals and key signatures - for the entire band! This sheet focuses on the specific issues between the keys of B-flat concert and E-flat concert. It deals with the "A-flat or A" issue we encounter frequently in band classes. Method books are limited in their ability to treat this issue thoroughly. This resource draws attent

This is a ready-to-use collections of QR code links to note-reading exercises located at musictheory.net. Please note that these are only links to another existing website, conveniently organized and cataloged in the following way: Level 1: Sheets are grouped into 3 sets: 5 notes 7 notes 8 notes Each sheet has 7 QR codes for different instruments. Level 2: Sheets are organized by instrument (1 instrument per sheet). Codes include: Review (8 notes) Pages 21, 23 (adds A-flat concert notes)

These 7 practice guides correlate to pages 21-42 of Sound Innovations Book 1 for String Orchestra. It uses no copyrighted material from the text, but rather guides a student in learning and performing through defining, drawing, and (of course) performing repetitions of key exercises in the text. -Keep students on-task while practicing at home -Have an alternative to grading minutes of practice -Give parents and guardians a concrete idea of what their children should be practicing These guides a

These 7 practice guides correlate to the first 20 pages of Sound Innovations Book 1 for String Orchestra. It uses no copyrighted material from the text, but rather guides a student in learning and performing through defining, drawing, and (of course) performing repetitions of key exercises in the text. -Keep students on-task while practicing at home -Have an alternative to grading minutes of practice -Give parents and guardians a concrete idea of what their children should be practicing These g

"Saxophones! 'C#' is no fingers!" "Clarinets! 'F#' is first finger only!" (Over and over again.) This worksheet/practice guide/assessment tool is a "deep dive" into accidentals and key signatures - for the entire band! This sheet focuses on the specific issues between the keys of B-flat concert and F concert. It deals heavily with the "E-flat or E" issue we encounter frequently in band classes. It also introduces some simple chromatic movement. Method books are limited in their ability

This resource can be used as an illustrative poster, or a formative assessment, on the basic elements any young instrumentalist will encounter when learning music notation. Included: A page with labels, and a corresponding page with blanks to fill in.

My first and second year students sometimes have trouble remembering to bring instruments to school. One key component of fostering positive habits and building personal accountability is the "I Forgot My Instrument" form. These forms live in a binder in a designated place in the classroom, preferably near a phone. Students who forget have to check in with me, and fill out this form, adding the days they forget on the same form. After the second "miss," they have to make a call to parents,