What makes Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician unique? Features include:

• Teacher tips for each exercise in the book.
• Diatonic solfege that begins on the first day of instruction.
• Initial exercises on the mouthpiece, mouthpiece and barrel, reed, bocal and reed, or headjoint prior to playing the first notes in the book.
• Sequential rhythm charts embedded in the book. These same rhythms are then presented with pitches for a seamless transfer to the music students are performing.
• Technique and skill-building exercises embedded within the method, which helps to prepare students for future Habits exercises.
• The introduction of the key of Concert C, which results in students playing the pitches B, E, and A more often (as opposed to the typical emphasis on B-flat, E-flat, and A-flat).
• The introduction of five keys: Concert B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, C, and F. The Concert G scale is also provided in the back of the book.
• Left (L) and right (R) indicators for woodwinds along with appropriate chromatic alternate fingering indicators.
• Shaded boxes around first-time challenges in the student books.
• A thorough explanation of (T:1) for trombones and rules for when to use it.
• Rhythm vocabulary that progresses through quarters, eighths, dotted rhythms, sixteenths, and an eighth and two sixteenths.
• The sequential introduction of the one-handed breakdown of a percussion rudiment before introducing the rudiment itself.
• The use of the (enharmonic ladder) and the (call-and-response game) to learn enharmonic notes.
• A thorough explanation of and markings for the (F dilemma) on oboe.
• An explanation of appropriate flicking on bassoon.
• Two pages of slow (clarinets only) work that focuses on going over the break and throat tones.