1st Place Band Etudes - Bolduc Music

1st Place Etudes is a tool that Band Directors have been asking for. The 35 melodic and rudimental studies will follow your band students from grade 6 well into high school with a systematic introduction to common keys, time signatures, articulation and rudiment combinations, rhythms, and styles. These Etudes are developed to facilitate the use of playing assessments to measure student achievement, but also as an extension of your warm ups, for sight reading, or prepared for individual or sectional performances, recitals, or auditions.

The system presented in this Etude Book offers everything a Band Director needs to assess individual progress, but also to practice them as a full ensemble. Many Etude books are unique for each instrument. This book of correlated studies makes it easy for teachers to engage the entire band, including percussion, while challenging each member individually. The Snare Book was edited by DCI Hall-of-Fame member Charley Poole, offering a ‘1st rate’ approach for your developing percussionists as well.

Website Etude - Educational Goals (3 × 11 in) (3.5 × 11 in) (3.5 × 10.5 in) (3.5 × 9.5 in)

So how have band directors used these Etudes? Here are a few examples from teachers who have been using 1st Place products since they were first introduced on 2009.

Many band directors combine etudes and assessment sheets for individual playing assessments throughout the school year. Since etudes align across all instruments (including snare and mallets), full-group rehearsals before assessments save time. A student rubric with guiding questions (tone, rhythm, articulation, musicianship, etc.) helps students prepare.
For testing, students often record and submit digital performances. To prevent excessive retakes, teachers set up multiple recorders in practice rooms, where students state their name and perform. Teachers then review recordings and provide feedback using various assessment sheets, from simple star ratings to detailed checklists.
The first 20 Etudes are intentionally short (8-24 bars). They are written so that a teacher can hear a :30 second to minute clip of each student, and give focused feedback because everything you need to hear is written in those few bars (articulation, dynamics, fingering/rudiment challenges, etc.). Why sit through an extended audition waiting for the handful of bars you really need to here? The final 10 Etudes are a full page and offer longer ‘audition ‘ pieces if needed.
Etudes are also used for ensemble placement (e.g., Symphonic vs. Concert Band) and chair assignments, with a consistent grading system ensuring fairness and familiarity with assessment criteria.
Private lesson teachers use the 35 Etudes as a core part of lessons, assigning pieces based on student development. By purchasing a section bundle, teachers have ample material without requiring students to buy expensive, misaligned books.
1st Place Etudes also serve as sight-reading exercises, covering a range of styles, including swing, classical, marches, ballads, and more, in varied time signatures.
Some districts use the etudes for standardized assessments, tracking progress across schools. A district in Massachusetts implemented grade-level benchmarks across its three middle schools and two high schools, ensuring consistent expectations. Schools made a one-time purchase of PDFs for unlimited future use.
Finally, 1st Place Etudes help secondary band directors manage mixed-grade ensembles by assigning different etudes by grade level or skill. Honors Band students may receive advanced assignments. Since all parts align, brief run-throughs benefit all students, and a shared rubric ensures consistency.