Bell Production Company

America: Land of Opportunity Musical

“America: Land of Opportunity” is a collection of songs from the musical of the same name which chronicles the life of Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone. The Bell story is more than the account of the young Scottish inventor; it is also a portrait of the American free enterprise system. Though now only remembered as a large corporate monopoly, The Bell Telephone Company began as most businesses, a fledgling startup and the dream of its founders. In this case it was Bell and two prominent Bostonians, Gardiner Hubbard, an attorney, and Thomas Sanders, a merchant. Both men risked their personal fortunes in supporting the enterprise and nearly went bankrupt in the process. The enterprise they began touched the lives of millions and brought prosperity to investors, employees, and consumers. In large part it made the free market expansion of the twentieth century possible through the use of telephonic communications. The themes echoed in the music are especially relevant today as America struggles with self-doubts about its culture and values and the forces of economic and political globalization. “America: Land of Opportunity” is a reminder of what is still possible in America, as long as we hold fast to the ideals set forth at our founding.

Dinos From Space

Dinos From Space Children's Book You thought dinosaurs were extinct. But just suppose they escaped their world before the comet hit? Where did they go? Will they return? Find out what "really" happened in "DINOS FROM SPACE" “Highly recommended for children ages 3-10 - I love the rhyme scheme and the illustrations.” Charles Evans Top 100 Reviewer “Brightly illustrated by Kristin Olivo, Dinos from Space sparks the imagination with images of dinosaurs that have human thought processes and feelings. Pre-school children through eight-year-olds who have discovered and are in awe of the world of dinosaurs are sure to enjoy it.” Miss Bob Eiter BC blogcritics Below are pages from "Dinos From Space"
Kristin Olivo (Illustrations) Kristin Olivo graduated from The University of the Arts in 2002 with a BFA in Illustration and in 2003 with honors for a Masters Degree in Art Education. She currently teaches art in the public school district of Wayne, NJ where she resides with her husband. She has made great progress with Autistic children by enhancing their art technique thus progressing their fine motor skills as well as communication. Kristin teaches private art lessons throughout the year as well as working on her own projects including oil, collage, pencil and watercolors. Her artwork has been displayed in numerous galleries and she has sold many of her pieces privately as well as commissioned.
Michael Treni (Story) Michael Treni teaches 4th and 5th grade band in the Wayne, New Jersey public schools. Additional biographical information can be found in the "Meet The Composer" page. Top of Page

A Complete Year of Band Series

Musical Arrangements on CD-ROM Elementary Band • Elementary Strings Print individual parts, scores, even selections by instruments in order of increasing difficulty, from the CD-ROM. Features • PDF files print from any computer with Adobe Acrobat Reader • Replace parts and score as needed without additional purchases • A complete year of music for the average elementary school band • Graduated Difficulty designed to progress with your student’s playing ability • Songs your students know and will enjoy playing • Arrangements designed around specific musical concepts • Scores and parts sorted by arrangement, individual part, and instrument Click Here to Place An Order Dear Band Director: Several years ago when I began my instrumental teaching career, I had difficulty finding elementary band music that sounded good and was easy to learn. Even more problematic was replacing parts every time a student lost his or her music – something that most elementary students repeatedly do. Since music publishers forbid photocopying and require the purchase of replacement parts, I had a choice between breaking the copyright law, or waiting for an approval from my business office to order more music. Having spent a number of years as a professional arranger in New York city recording studios, I decided that I would try writing my own music to fit the needs of my program and at the same time solve my duplication problems. What I came up with was A Complete Year of Band, a collection of 10 full-band arrangements and warm-ups in 3 keys, on CD-ROM. In addition to the great-sounding arrangements, A Complete Year of Band licenses the purchaser to make an unlimited number of copies, year after year. Scores and parts are stored and organized in PDF files where they can be read and printed from any computer (IBM-compatible, or MAC) that is equipped with the adobe acrobat reader software and a printer. Now, when students lose or destroy parts, I simply print out a new one. At the end of the school year I let students keep their music. The next time I want to play one of the pieces, I print out a new, fresh copy. Music can be printed in one of three formats: complete arrangement with score and all parts; instrumental folders with all selections in order of increasing difficulty; and individual parts. In addition, audio files of each arrangement are included on the CD which can be duplicated to create a demo disk for students. To see how easy it is to use the Complete Year of Band CD, click on the interactive menu screen below to listen to audio files, and print sample parts and scores. Please note that the file directories on this web site do not emulate the graphics of the CD-ROM, which uses file folders and PDF icons. I hope you will try Complete Year of Band and wish you much success in your music programs. Sincerely, Michael Treni MTreni@BellProductionCo.com
Complete Year of Strings Contents This Old Man Ode to Joy Jingle Bells Good King Wenceslas Silent Night Surprise Symphony* Pomp & Circumstance* St. Anthony’s Chorale* William Tell Overture* My Country ‘Tis of Thee Arranged for: Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello (all arrangements include Piano reduction) * includes optional parts for flute, oboe & French horn Click Here to Place An Order ___________________________________________________________________________________
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Here’s what people are saying about A Complete Year of Band “A concise and systematic approach to musical development…highly recommended!” Vincent Cutro Hackensack School System Hackensack, New Jersey “A Complete Year in Band” offers success for all beginner band programs. Michael Treni’s stylish arrangements facilitate young players with a wealth of programmable repertoire. A musical gem!” Pat Merlucci Instrumental Music Specialist Wayne Board of Education “Familiar tunes that all students (and parents) will recognize. It is very convenient to be able to print out parts from a disc at your desk. I highly recommend this program for grades 4 - 6, with possibilities for somewhat older students.” Mary Nussear Band Director, Grades 5-8 Dumont, NJ "A Complete Year of Band is a great addition to my band program! The range of difficulty is appropriate for both of my 4th and 5th grade bands, and it is music that they like to play. Printing parts is a breeze, especially when a student will invariably lose them!" Michele Hughes Instrumental Music Specialist Wayne Board of Education
Product Review: by Ron Gruber Shelby, MT A Complete Year of Band is a CD-Rom program written by Michael Treni. The program provides ten songs and eight warm ups that are designed for band students that just started learning to play their instruments. The songs included in the software are: Go Tell Aunt Rhodie, Au Claire de la Lune, Banana Boat Song, Jingle Bells, My Dreydl, America, Ode to Joy, When the Saints Go Marching In, The Star Spangled Banner, and You’re a Grand Old Flag. The warmups include the B-Flat, E-Flat, and F Major Scales, Chromatic Scale, and a Chorale Theme. When you insert the CD-Rom into your computer the program runs automatically, taking you to a start-up menu that allows you to view an introduction, open the musical files, listen to the songs, or view links provided by the composer. When you open the musical files you have two different avenues, you can open the songs or warm ups as full band arrangements or you can open the instrumental books. Since purchasing this software allows you to print an unlimited number of copies for your band, you could start the year by printing out a book for each student in your band. I have found that also to be very handy when my fifth graders come into class and say they lost their music. I can simply insert the CD-Rom and print out a new copy of the song. They don’t have to wait until the next time I see them after I have time to run across the school to the copy machine and illegally make them a copy of the song. In using the software this year, I have found that the songs actually work well for not only my first-year students, but also my second-year students. Since my first and second-year bands meet only five days every two weeks, we are not able to complete the first method book during the first year of band so we begin the second year finishing the first book. Half the songs that Mr. Treni has arranged have worked well with my second year band. We have been able to find many educational moments in addition to reinforcing some fundaments perhaps forgotten over the summer. In addition to getting music for multiple groups, most songs come with multiple parts for flute, clarinet, and trumpet. Some of the parts are divided by range, while others like the clarinet part for Au Clair de la Lune has the first clarinets playing an eight note pattern while the second clarinets play the melody. Printing out both parts for the entire sections lets us work on different parts each day with the goal of having half the section play each part. The percussionist also have multiple instruments to play with arrangements including snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and sometimes other percussion instruments. I always opt to give them the oboe part so they can also practice playing the keyboard instruments. The only drawback I found is that all the scores are in concert pitch, meaning you have to do the transpositions in your head when you want to talk with your beginning band about playing correct notes. For most of us this it does not take much time or thought. However if you don’t remember to do that all-important step your young saxophone players may look at you strangely. Some of the score had some inconsistent notations compared to the parts, but it was nothing major. I think this software is worth the price if you are looking for some music to supplement your beginning band method books. The songs will excite your students and give you a wider variety of styles to teach. If you are like me and always looking for songs to spice up your beginning band program than A Complete Year of Band might be for you. Top of Page
Introduction Arrangements Warm-ups Instrumental Folders Audio Files

Turnaround

Turnaround, a CD/DVD project documenting performances of eight original works by composer and arranger Michael Treni scored for a 16-piece jazz ensemble. Among the personnel on the CD, which was recorded in February 2009 and February 2008, are saxophonists Jerry Bergonzi and Frank Elmo, trumpeter Vinnie Cutro and pianist Charles Blenzig and, in one of his last known studio sessions, the late alto saxophonist Gerry Niewood. "His writing is adventurous, demanding of both musicians and listeners, and always fresh...outstanding arrangements played by exceptional musicians." Jersey Jazz, January 2010 "Though Treni may not be familiar to most listeners, this album shows him to be in the league with Bill Holman, John Fedchock, Slide Hampton, Jim McNeely, and other top arrangers." News Observer, January 2010
Music available for: Blues for Charlie Tender Moments Tenor-Bryo Bone Happy each arrangement $60 includes parts and score on CD-ROM scored for 5 woodwinds, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, and 4 rhythm

Detour

Seven original compositions by Michael Treni performed by the Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra. Solo performances by Steve Bliefus (trombone), Freddie Hendrix (trumpet), Gerry Niewood (alto sax & piccolo), Scott Reeves (alto flugelhorn), James Ridl (piano), and Tiffany Treni (vocals). Recorded August 2006. More information on this recording can be found at: www.cdbaby.com/cd/miketreni "In this, an era of so little great big band music, besides the work of Maria Schneider, this disc rocks." JazzReview.Com 2008
Music available for: Phoenix Rising Detour! Wigglepuss The Man for Me (vocal) Try (vocal) each arrangement $60 includes parts and score on CD-ROM scored for 5 woodwinds, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, and 4 rhythm

Unity

The Jazz Composer’s Workshop Orchestra is a 16-piece ensemble created specifically to perform original jazz arrangements and compositions written by its player-members. The group is comprised of some of the top musicians in the New York metro area, veteran players who have worked with groups such as Toshiko Akiyoshi, Woody Herman, Chuck Mangione, Buddy Rich, Horace Silver, The Tonight Show Band, and The Vanguard Orchestra. Unity, the group’s second CD, is a compilation of work from five different composers. Recorded February 2008. More information on this recording can be found at: www.cdbaby.com/cd/jazzcwo
Music available for: Forward Motion each arrangement $60 includes parts and score on CD-ROM scored for 5 woodwinds, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, and 4 rhythm

School Orders

Pricing for educational publications: A Complete Year of Band - 10 arrangements for elementary band on CD-Rom: Regularly $299.00 On sale now for only $59.99 until 6/30/10. A Complete Year of Strings - 10 arrangements for elementary strings on CD-Rom: Regularly $199.00 On sale now for only $59.99 until 6/30/10. Dinos From Space Suite for elementary band on CD-Rom: $69.00 Dinos From Space hard cover children's book: $16.99 Additional Titles for Elementary Band on CD-ROM $29.95 per title Music for Jazz Band on CD-ROM $60.00 per title Add $5.00 shipping fee for each item ordered Items can be purchased with a credit card at the online store, or school purchase orders can be mailed or faxed to: The Bell Production Company LLC 125 Deer Trail North Ramsey, New Jersey 07446 (201) 661-8927 Questions? Please send an email. MTreni@BellProductionCo.com

New Music For Concert Band

Dinos From Space Audio Order Dinos from Space
Dinos From Space Dinos From Space is a programmatic work in 3 movements based on the humorous children's book of the same title. Section 1, "Invasion", features strong rhythmic punctuations in the lower voices while flutes perform intervalic leaps on the tritone between C and F#. Your flute students will be thrilled that they can easily play something that looks so difficult. Section 2, "Realization", is a minor blues theme based on a repetitive dotted eighth and sixteenth-note rhythm. Section 3, "Retreat", sounds like everyone's favorite movie theme - but it's not! The work can be performed with or without narration using the text of the book, which accompanies the score and parts. This a fun-packed feature for any concert and provides a great connection for projects and lessons across your school's curriculm. Instrumentation: • Flute 1 (top note: high C) • Flute 2 • Clarinet 1 • Clarinet 2 (does not cross break) • Bass Clarinet (does not cross break) • Alto Saxophone • Tenor Saxophone • French Horn (top note: high Eb) • Trumpet (top note: high C) • Trombone (top note: middle Bb) • Tuba • Marimba/Xylophone • Suspended Cymbal • Snare drum • Bass drum • Tympani Package includes score and parts in PDF format and audio recording on CD-Rom, plus a paper back copy of Dinos From Space children's book for use in narrated performances. A 32-page hard cover book is also available. See the online store for details. Additional Titles For Elementary Band Banana Boat Song* An easy arrangement of this ever-popular Caribbean folk song, made all the more interesting with its stop-time percussion section soli and frequent saxophone riffs. Every year my students beg me to let them play this on a concert! Deck the Halls A great way to teach dotted-eighth and sixteenth-note rhythms. The long melodic phrases, played by the flutes and clarinets, are broken into sub phrases and punctuated by open fifths in the lower voices, making this easy for young bands to play this many-noted melody. This is an impressive piece to play on a holiday concert. It sounds difficult to audiences, but is easy to learn! Jingle Bells* A hip arrangement of this winter concert favorite. The flutes echo the clarinet melody on the verses while the saxophones and brass play jazzy harmonies below. Ode to Joy* This arrangement, for an advanced elementary band, features an interesting harmonic treatment of this well-known classical theme. A great way for students to learn and practice their accidentals! Patriotic Medley This arrangement, in three parts, features Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the Beautiful, and America (My Country 'Tis of Thee). It is suitable for advanced elementary band or first-year middle school band. Perfect for any Memorial Day concert! Silent Night Normally written in 6/8 time, this arrangment is written in 3/4 time using dotted quarter and eighth-note rhythms for young bands. The Star Spangled Banner* Has the sound, and feel of much more difficult arrangements. Ideal for advanced elementary and middle school bands. You're a Grand Old Flag* Modulating introduction, soli sections for high and low instruments, and a challenging sixteenth-note flute section obligato, make this ideal for advanced elementary and middle school bands. A real flag waver! When the Saints Go Marching In* A jazz-flavored arrangement that your students will enjoy playing. Every section gets a chance to play the melody, first the trumpets, then the saxophones, and finally the high winds with a modulation to Eb. A fun part for your trombone players too! Arranged for: • Flute 1 • Flute 2 • Clarinet 1 • Clarinet 2 (does not cross break) • Bass Clarinet (does not cross break) • Alto Saxophone • Tenor Saxophone • French Horn • Trumpet • Trombone • Baritone Horn (treble clef) • Suspended Cymbal • Snare drum • Bass drum • Misc Percussion $29.95 per arrangement. Includes score and parts in PDF format on CD-Rom * included in Complete Year of Band