Yamaha Advantage Bulk Band Method Book Set – Book 1 & Primer
A complete starting library by Sandy Feldstein and Larry Clark — 10 Book 1 titles and 8 Primer titles spanning all major band instruments, with CD included in every book.
About This Set
This bulk purchase is built for the band director who needs to stock both a foundational beginning method and a true quick-start option for younger or time-limited learners. The Yamaha Advantage Book 1 is a full beginning band method emphasizing musicianship from the very first lesson — not just note-reading, but real musical awareness through carefully designed exercises, chorales, and familiar repertoire. The Primer series is an accelerated on-ramp: shape notes ease beginners into traditional notation, a built-in First Concert provides an early performance goal, and a smooth handoff into Book 1 keeps students on track without feeling like they are starting over. Together, they give a program the flexibility to meet students exactly where they are.
Key Highlights
- Authored by Sandy Feldstein and Larry Clark — two of the most respected names in beginning band education
- Published by Sandy Feldstein's PlayinTime Productions through Carl Fischer Music
- CD included in every Book 1 and every Primer — play-along tracks and PDF files of extra music for home practice
- Book 1 stresses musicianship from day one with correct note lengths, line direction, and proper phrasing built into every exercise
- Three flexible starting systems for Horn and Oboe give directors real scheduling flexibility
- Musical Percussion presentation covers accessory instruments and Timpani — not just snare and bass drum
- Primer volumes use shape notes in early pages to reinforce tone production before transitioning to standard notation
- Built-in First Concert in every Primer book gives beginners an early, confidence-building performance milestone
- Correlates to the National Standards in Arts Education
- Supplemental online community at playintimeadvantage.com supports both students and teachers
The Approach
The Yamaha Advantage was built on a core belief: technique alone does not make a musician. Every exercise in Book 1 is specifically designed to develop musical thinking — phrasing, dynamics, direction — not just the mechanics of fingering and embouchure. Students learn to play musically from lesson one.
The Primer Advantage
For programs with limited rehearsal time or younger beginners, the Primer is a genuine solution. It gets students producing a real tone and performing in an ensemble faster than a traditional method, while building directly toward Book 1 rather than creating a parallel track the director has to manage separately.
The CD Factor
Every book in this set ships with an enhanced CD containing professionally recorded play-along tracks. This gives students a musical reference at home — a real ensemble sound to match — rather than practicing in isolation. That difference shows up quickly in tone quality and rhythmic accuracy.
Great Fit For
- Elementary and middle school band directors launching or expanding a beginning program
- Programs running both a Primer cohort and a Book 1 cohort simultaneously
- Directors needing a well-organized percussion curriculum that goes beyond snare and bass drum basics
- Schools where contact time is limited and the Primer's accelerated on-ramp fills a real need
- Music programs replacing worn or outdated method books across multiple instrument sections
Curriculum Context
The Yamaha Advantage was the first band method to build a supplemental online community specifically designed to extend learning beyond the classroom. That architecture reflects how the whole method is designed — not as a stand-alone workbook but as a complete system. The Primer feeds cleanly into Book 1, Book 1 builds ensemble musicians who play with genuine musical awareness, and the online resources keep students engaged between lessons. This bulk set covers the instrument spread of a realistic beginning band across woodwinds, brass, and percussion, with quantities weighted appropriately toward the higher-demand voices.
Complete Book Inventory
| Title |
Level |
Qty |
| Book 1 Titles |
| Percussion – Snare & Bass Drum |
Book 1 |
x6 |
| Flute |
Book 1 |
x5 |
| Clarinet |
Book 1 |
x4 |
| Trombone |
Book 1 |
x4 |
| Combined Percussion |
Book 1 |
x3 |
| Baritone B.C. |
Book 1 |
x3 |
| Horn |
Book 1 |
x3 |
| Alto Saxophone |
Book 1 |
x2 |
| Trumpet |
Book 1 |
x2 |
| Tuba |
Book 1 |
x1 |
| Primer Titles |
| Alto Saxophone / Baritone Saxophone |
Primer |
x4 |
| Trombone / Baritone B.C. |
Primer |
x4 |
| Percussion |
Primer |
x4 |
| Flute / Oboe / Keyboard Percussion |
Primer |
x2 |
| Trumpet / Baritone T.C. |
Primer |
x2 |
| Clarinet |
Primer |
x2 |
| Horn |
Primer |
x2 |
| Tuba |
Primer |
x2 |
Set Specifications
Authors Sandy Feldstein & Larry Clark
Publisher Carl Fischer Music / PlayinTime Productions
Levels Included Primer & Book 1
Book 1 Page Count 47 pages per title
CD Included Yes – every book
Total Titles in Set 18
Total Books in Set 61
Language English
Standards Alignment National Standards in Arts Education
There is something really satisfying about a band method that respects the student enough to treat them like a musician from day one. That is what Sandy Feldstein and Larry Clark built here, and it holds up. Whether you are launching a brand new program, re-stocking a school library, or adding the Primer level to give your youngest players a smoother start — this set has a lot going for it.
If you have questions about quantities, want to talk through what your program needs, or just want to make sure you are getting the right books for the right players, we are happy to help. Give us a call or send a text anytime.
814-371-5666 — Spotts Music Center, Dubois, PA. Helping you make music.
