| Freshman solo selection
Andante and Allegro is a good all around piece for 8th/9th grade level assuming a 3-4 year experience level. Guy Ropartz is the composer. Has a nice lyrical section and good energetic section with some rhythm concerns that are also good teaching/learning elements.
I recommend getting it as part of the 9 Grand Solo de Concert collection edited by Georges Mager. Good value for the money and several appropriate level solos and one duo.
Aria con Verazione (Handel) is another good learning/performing piece.
Episode (Walters) is a good freshman level piece.
Suite for Trumpet and Strings (piano reduction) by Frackenpohl is an excellent selection.
Variations in Db (Busser) is a great piece with limited range but excellent material. Not very oftern performed but judges at local festivals always ask where it came from due to its quality.
Any of the Herbert L. Clarke selections are good, but be sure they are well within your capabilities. Some are demanding to a point that if one is only getting the notes and not the musical elements, then one will not be successful with these.
While these are not "Beethoven" or "Russian" I think you would do well to look into them. Why limit yourself to only these two catagories. There is plenty of time to get into the works of Arutunian, Gliere, Pahkmutova and others.
Bill Dishman
Gainesville, Florida |