The "Essential Elements 2000: A Comprehensive Band Method" is a great book for a young person who is learning an instrument for the first time. There is a fingering chart in the back of the book to make looking up fingerings quick and easy. The book starts off very basic with the parts of the instrument. The easiest notes to play and finger are presented first with exercises to practice them. This book comes with a play-along CD. This CD includes all solo exercises.

Hal Leonard also offers (though not through Amazon) band sets for band directors. They are simple arrangements of music that correlate with the book. They are great for the first concert.

There is an older version of this book called "Essential Elements: A Comprehensive Band Method". The book is purple and has many of the same features as this one, but the CDs have to purchased separately.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:


Key word is "Band Method"  Sep 03, 2010 By Sol Ut Press "Musician-friendly resources"
This is a good book with good information, and simply introduced, but keep in mind that it's a "band method." Lots of short and simple songs to help teach music-reading skills and not much extra information (which would come from the band director, ideally). The book's a sight-before-sound kind of method, meaning that the focus is more on reading the notation than making music, and it's designed to be used in a band where the director also teaches.

If you do buy this, consider a supplemental book that is more comprehensive (a chapter on cleaning the horn, how to practice, range, discography, etc.). It's an approach that also addresses listening and music-making: Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:


Good for beginners, but....  Oct 25, 2006 By Jonathan D. Harnum
This is a pretty good book for beginners and has many of the essential elements necessary to begin playing trumpet, like fingerings, posture, and related basic material. That being said, more explanation of some techniques would be helpful, as well as suggestions about ways to practice, recordings to listen to, and maybe even some trumpet history. Though I recommend this book for beginners, a good supplement to it that includes all of the items listed above is: 'Sound the Trumpet: How to Blow Your Own Horn."

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:


Excellent Introduction  Aug 30, 2011 By trumpet j
I am 40 years old and completely new to orechestral instruments, but this book is very basic, for the complete beginner. I found it very helpful, about the level of early middle school, which I imagine is its intended audience. It is very easy to follow and doesn't move too quickly.

My only complaint is that the DVD included in the book would not play on my computer and when I tried to use a standard DVD player, it kept getting stuck or skipping parts. This only improved slightly after I cleaned the disc. If you are purchasing this version with the hopes of having your experience enhanced by the accompanying DVD, just be aware that it may not play for you.

As far as the book by itself is concerned, I would recommend it, and I am pleased with its pacing and the ease with which new notes and musical concepts are introduced.


Great Tool...However  Dec 21, 2011 By Tina M. Coman
I love this book. I purchased it from Willis Music Store instead of Amazon,because theirs comes with a CD and DVD. The Book and CD are great however, the DVD is just the same thing as the CD. You think it would shou you form, and positions and pictures, however, from my viewing experience it does not. However this is a great product, and perfect for a beginner who wants to learn like me.

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