First Five - Robert Clayson [DIGITAL]

First Five is a piece for flexible percussion ensemble that only uses the first five notes of the B-flat major scale. It has no specific instrument requirements other than one metallic mallet instrument (such as a glockenspiel or vibraphone), one wooden mallet instrument (such as a marimba or xylophone), and a snare drum. Everything else found in this score is completely optional and can be added (or doubled) at the ensemble leader’s discretion.

Genre: Flex Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 3-7+
Series: Ignite Series
Level: Easy | Duration: 2:10

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)

Required for Performance
Metallic Keyboards (Bells, Vibraphone, etc.)
Wooden Keyboards (Xylophone, Marimba, etc.)
Snare Drum (may double/substitute with any struck non-pitched instrument)

Bonus Parts
Timpani (2 drums)
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine (may double/substitute with any auxiliary instrument, like Triangle/Woodblock)
Concert Bass Drum (may double/substitute with Kick Drum laid flat)

Program Notes
As an educator who also is a composer, I have always tried to write at least one piece each year that is focused on being as accessible as possible regardless of resources or skill level. In 2024, I decided to take that a step further and challenge myself to write something that students realistically start learning after only the first couple of months in the classroom with a non-percussionist band director. This meant stripping away all of the intermediate to advanced concepts that I use in my music and writing for what is essentially square one in terms of talent level and instrument accessibility. To that end, First Five has no specific instrument requirements other than one metallic mallet instrument (such as a glockenspiel or vibraphone), one wooden mallet instrument (such as a marimba or xylophone), and a snare drum. Everything else found in this score is completely optional and can be added (or doubled) at the ensemble leader’s discretion.

For me as a composer, it was very challenging to try and write creatively without things I usually rely on to help make the music interesting such as accents, rolls on the snare drum and cymbals, as well as only using the first five notes of the B-flat major scale (which is where the title of the piece comes from). I hope that this piece will help inspire more non-percussionist band directors to perform percussion ensemble music within their concert band programs.

– R.C.

The IGNITE Series
This unique series was designed specifically for young percussionists as they experience the magic of playing in a percussion ensemble. Each piece provides the director and students with great flexibility – from the number of players to the tempo to the instrumentation.
Light a fire under your students today!