Description
1st Place Etudes Master Set: Melodic Studies for Student Success – NEW 4th Edition!
Band directors and private lesson teachers aiming to strengthen their band students’ playing skills will find the 1st Place Etudes Master set of Books an essential resource. Students also enjoy the variety & challenges presented throughout.
This collection of 35 melodic and rudimental studies were designed to assign students accessible and appropriate pieces for auditions, recitals, and assessments in middle/high school band classes and lessons.
The 2026 4th Edition now comes with Play-a-Long audio files! Upon purchase, you will find a link to the audio files in the directory.
note: If you’ve already purchased a 1st Place Etudes product – email me (jeff@bolducmusic.com). I’ll send you a link to the revised book(s) in Drive along with the audio available in multiple formats. Instrumental teachers using Etudes can now provide students with rehearsal music to practice and prepare ahead of time! Recitals and performances will be enhanced with quality accompaniment just by hitting play.
Key Features of the 1st Place Etudes Master Set:
- 🥇Covers common keys and time signatures for well-rounded learning.
- 🥇 Strengthens articulation and rudimental combinations.
- 🥇 Correlated so all instruments can play together.
- 🥇 Introduces challenging rhythms and diverse musical styles and tempos.
- 🥇 Audio files in 4 formats: (to accompany practice or performance).
- 🥇 Provides all students the chance to prepare melodic or rudimental material regardless of the parts they play in the ensemble.
A Practical Solution for Authentic Assessment
The challenge in offering authentic assessment for a sizable band program is time and having appropriate material ready to go.
- Time for:
- Rehearsing a piece quickly in class in the weeks leading up to the recorded assessments (preferably one piece instead of multiple pieces).
- For the teacher to actually be able to not only listen to each student, but offer feedback that addresses the ongoing progress of each of them.
- For student reflection and planning future growth for them and the full ensemble.
- Materials that:
- Include a variety of pieces in common keys that provide similar difficulties but in different context (key, time, tempo, phrasing, articulation/rudiments, etc.).
- That are shareable both digitally and in print without breaking copyright laws.
- Provide play-a-long practice tracks so students can prepare on their own with confidence.
- That provide technical challenges that are teachable but also assessable (accuracy, dynamics, articulation, style, range, dexterity, etc.).
- Are generally quite short so a teacher can listen to the whole thing in 30-45 seconds.
- Facilitate that percussion are also engaged through this whole process with well thought out skill development (rudiments, rhythms, sticking and mallet challenges).
- Provide ‘non-melodic’ players with challenges beyond their repertoire pieces, especially at the middle school level. Encourage growth but also prevent boredom.
· 1st Place Etudes addresses all of these.
If you are a middle or high school band director, you will purchase a ‘turn-key’ system that offers answers to all of the above. The Etudes provide plenty of flexibility with so many pieces to pick from (see the directory at the bottom of this write-up). If you teach both, you have enough materials to challenge your students from grade 6 all the way through high school, with some left over for your Honors Band students.
The études are concise yet detailed, enabling quick assessments of essential skills. Teachers can provide timely feedback with the available Assessment Sheet Variety Pack, further accelerating student progress. That set is included with the Master Set or the Conductor Score.
This system allows for both group participation and individual challenges. If you are a Private Lesson teacher, these will give you great pieces to assign with increasing challenges as students progress. Included in the Master, Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion Sets is the new Lead Sheet Book. With changes for everything you hear in the play-a-long tracks, this book allows for live accompaniment of any piece, at whatever tempo is appropriate.
Educational Benefits of the 1st Place Etudes Master Set:
With regular practice, students can:
✅ Enhance accuracy and technical precision.
✅ Gain confidence in solo and group performances using the audio tracks.
✅ Explore diverse musical styles, keys, tempos, and time signatures.
✅ Overcome challenges tailored for advancing musicians.
✅ Utilize assessment tools at the end of each book for measurable progress.
Versatile, Practical, and a great Value for Any Band Program
Because of its adaptability, the 1st Place Etude Books have found a variety of uses since the 1st Edition was released in 2009. The new play-a-long tracks make it even more useful.
Etudes are ideal for:
- 🎯 Private & Group Lessons – A cost-effective resource for multi-level instruction. With books correlated, you can combine any band instruments into a lesson with common materials.
- 🎯 Practice & Study Material – A one-time purchase that enhances lesson plans, and provides students with practice tracks to study.
- 🎯 School & District Evaluations – Standardized tools for consistent growth measurement.
- 🎯 Grading & Seating Placement – Helps teachers assess student skill level using comparable challenges across all instruments.
- 🎯 Portfolio Submissions – Includes rubrics and reflection sheets for documentation.
- 🎯 Advanced Students – Provides additional challenges for high-achieving musicians.
- 🎯 Sight-Reading Exercises – Strengthens reading and quick-learning skills.
- 🎯 Recitals & Auditions – Offers performance-ready études for all levels, with practice and performance tracks. Symphonic favorites and several swing studies are mixed throughout.
What’s in the audio files?
🎧 There are NEW mp3 audio files for the 35 etudes located in a shared Google Drive (linked in the directory upon purchase).
- 🎵 Full audio with 🎺 melody and 🥁 snare solo.
- 🎵 Background audio only.
- These will continue to be upgraded. Once you have the link you have access to the latest versions.
🎹 If you purchase any of the bundles (Master set, Brass, WW, Perc.) or the conductor score, you will receive the new Lead Sheet Book with melody and chord changes. This allows for live accompaniment for practice or performing. The changes align directly with the play-a-long tracks. Great for private lessons.
🥁 The Snare Drum part is embedded in the recordings. This approach has shown to produce drummers who have a more musical approach. Although they are learning important skills throughout, they are rehearsing with the recorded rhythm section tracks or with the winds in class. The option of a drummer having just a snare part with no context is gone!
Budget-Friendly & Accessible for Schools & Teachers
💰 Affordable & Convenient – Unlike expensive method books, the 1st Place Etude Books are available as a one-time PDF purchase. With purchase, a teacher may copy for their students in one school, ensuring a lasting resource for both traditional and digital classrooms.
Many of our sales have been Booster groups who buy a set of books for each of their teachers. A small donation that can have a large impact for years to come. Add instant alignment between schools oran entire band program.
- 🎶 Master Set includes:
- Teacher Guide, Conductor Score, Lead Sheet Book, all books, and a link to all audio. Assessment Sheet Variety Pack.
- 🎷 Woodwind Bundle:
- Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto-Bari Sax, Tenor Sax, Teacher Guide, Lead Sheet Book
- 🎺 Brass Bundle:
- Trumpet (Bar. TC), Horn in F, Trombone (Euphonium), Tuba, Teacher Guide, Lead Sheet Book
- 🥁 Percussion Bundle:
- Snare Drum, Mallets/Keyboard, Teacher Guide, Lead Sheet Book
- 🎼 Conductor Score includes the expanded Teacher Guide, and Lead Sheet Book.
Help Your Percussion Students Reach Their Full Potential
🎶 Set your players up for success with the 1st Place Etudes Percussion Set of books – NOW with play-a-long tracks! An essential addition to any band program.
Find more affordable and flexible band curriculum options at Bolduc Music – the ‘1st Place’ to go for quality band resources. You can also find our products on Teacher-Pay-Teachers, and stay updated by following us on Pinterest.
Etudes Wind Directory
