Catalog

What sort of music are you looking for? Here are the different type of products we offer(click to see more):

• 8 Core Orchestra Series

  Introducing our new 8 Core Orchestra Series

• AK Little Big Band Series

  Flexible Christmas series designed for small horn section up to full big band. Check out the recording samples below!

• Books

• Horns & Rhythm series

    Horns & Rhythm – Retro Worship Horns & Rhythm-Retro Hymns & Horns & Rhythm-Worship

• Instrumental Resources

  These play-a-long CDRoms were created by the first call session musicians in Nashville, TN. The pro plays the exercise, then you play it back to a click. warm-ups, range, scales, articulations etc

• Jericho Horns Series

  We are now able to sell the Jericho Horns Series that Aaron Weitekamp and I (Jeff Anderson) created and sold to Brentwood-Benson. You can now purchase all 3 volumes here and download them immediately! Volume 1 was designed as a ‘praise band’ series for 2 trumpets, 2 saxes, 2 trombones and rhythm section. Volume 2 [...]

• Listening CDs

• MP3s (Download now!)

  If you want to immediately have MP3s of our arrangements, you can order here then download them immediately. The songs are available for $.99 each or $6.99 for a complete set of songs. If you want to have MP3s for all of your players, please just order as many copies as you need for your [...]

• Music for Brass Ensemble

  The Master’s Brass Ensemble Series A Season for Brass (Christmas brass choir music)  

• Music for Brass Quintet

I like trumpet (and turtles)

I like trumpet.

I really do.

I love playing trumpet.

I really enjoy hearing the Nashville Symphony (with Jeff Bailey cranking away). I love hearing Steve Patrick sittin’ on top of a big band doing a Maynard tribute (like he did at the Franklin Jazz Festival the year Maynard died). I love Tim Morrison’s solo on John Williams’ Summon The Heroes. I loved hearing Wayne Bergeron playing lead live with the Patrick Williams Big Band when I was in LA in May. I love hearing Rick Baptist play his flugel (so so so warm). I love Doc. Enough said there. But what a ‘za’ sound. I love hearing Arturo solo. I love hearing and watching Faddis play live and laughing at the ridiculousness of his range. I love hearing and seeing James Morrison play and just crank! (and play every instrument in a big band). I love the truly ridiculousness/unfathomableness of Allen Vizzutti. Herp Albert and the Tijuana Brass make me smile. Maynard well..he’s Maynard. I remember the first time I heard Star Wars and Star Trek as an 8th grader and I couldn’t even wrap my head around how high he was playing. Then I went back to his Kenton days and..wow! I love Bobby Shew’s melodic solos and his Vegas showman style wit in concert. I love Dizzy and the life and energy he exuded. I love Louis Armstrong’s wonderful world and EVERY TIME he says hi to that gal Dolly. Wynton-Carnival of Venice. Wynton-jazz. Miles-that was a pretty cool birth. Clifford-I remember him.  Bud-Absolute stud. Freddie Hubbard-yes. Chris Botti-making trumpet cool for the masses (and playing while at the same time). Al Hirt-trumpet is fun. Phil Driscoll-as a church trumpeter, he changed everything in the church trumpet world. Mike Haynes on all the horn section records that came out of Nashville in the 80s and 90s. (Carman Live Radically Saved-trumpeters know what I’m talking about on this one). Chuck Mangione-It’s not a make believe world and it feels so good to listen to him. Jerry Hey-Michael Jackson (enough said). Roger Ingram-THAT Harry Connick, Jr. video-yep…trumpeters know what I mean). Bill Chase-you left us too early. Vinny DiMartino (how do you crossover that easy between classical and jazz?). Cat Anderson-a different planet of playing, especially considering those recordings were one take that long ago. Derek Watkins-Bond (enough said). Malcom McNab and the movies. George Tidwell’s jazz solos are GREAT and he’s always been super, super nice to me.

and there are a ton more. TON.

That’s the great thing about this instrument. There are so many ways you can play the trumpet. Jazz, Classical, Horn Section, Rock (Flea), Rap, Ska, R&B, Funk, Hip Hop, Country (yes), Mariachi, Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Brass Choirs, Brass Quintet, Trios, Duets and then just ridiculously high over top of some pretty classical piece (thank you Tastee Brothers for the fun ‘tastee’ stuff).

I’m now officially <cough> at 30 years of playing trumpet. I started playing in the Fall of 7th grade with Mr. Mattson at Ferry Pass Middle School in Pensacola and it’s now been 30 years that I’ve been playing trumpet. I’m currently 42 so it’s between 71 and 72% of my life that I’ve played trumpet.

I really do love it. When you love something, you want it to keep going. In my effort to support the trumpet world (and pay for food for my kiddos), I have created with my company:

7 volumes of brass quintets

2 volumes of brass choirs

1 volume of Christmas Big Band charts

1 volume of Christmas horn section charts

3 volumes of horn section charts

Trumpet (flugel) solo of Silent Night with full orchestra (lush strings and jazz rhythm section)

Trumpet Trio of Deck the Hall (not to Bugler’s Holiday)

Full orchestra arrangements with FUN trumpet parts (10,000 Reasons for Worship Orchestra Series)

1 volume of quick to pull together, yet still fun to play church orchestra arrangements (8 Core Orchestra Series)

A play-a-long series of trumpet routines in our Instrumental Resources division, we have 5 volumes of trumpet practice routines (warm ups, extended warm ups, scales, tonguing/articulations, and range)

There’s not much point to this post outside of some nostalgia, sentimentality (30 years is a LONG TIME) and a post that mentions trumpet a LOT which continues to help Google realize that Trumpets are back!!!! (they didn’t go anywhere but Google just needs to know that Trumpets are back!!!!)

Who’s your favorite trumpet player (or top 3)?

Oh…and I like turtles too.

Great options for instrumental Christmas music

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well, it is at least with churches starting to think about what they are going to do for Christmas.

As you are looking towards the Christmas season at your church, I would like to tell you about a number of options we have for instrumental music. And many of these options can be performed/played in the mall, in schools and other public venues as a great outreach as well as during the services all through the month of December.

(Click on the project titles for more information)

A Season for Brass

12 Christmas arrangements for brass choir and percussion. These are perfect for playing the lobby all throughout December.

The Master’s Brass Quintet Series – Volume 3 – Christmas
10 brass quintet arrangements of popular Christmas songs.

AK Little Big Band
10 Christmas arrangements for Big Band but they work with a horn section size group. These feature soloist (vocal or instrumental) plus the big band. These are FUN!

Horns & Rhythm – Christmas
It’s not Chicago, but it could be a suburb. Let us give you one Sunday off from planning at Christmastime. 4 congregational arrangments and one smokin’ instrumental feature designed in our Horns & Rhythm style!

Deck the Hall – Trumpet Trio
It’s a holiday for buglers that like decking. Arranged in the style of the classic Leroy Anderson favorite, Bugler’s Holiday, this arrangement of Deck the Hall for trumpet trio plus orchestra will be a HUGE HIT!

Silent Night for solo flugelhorn and full orchestra
From our Solo – Plus Series, this beautiful solo flugelhorn feature with orchestra will really give an opportunity for the flugelhorn to be featured with beautiful strings around them.

Don’t Forget!

Click on any of the project titles above for more information about what we have to offer for instrumental Christmas music!

You know it when you hear it

Sometimes you get absolutely no warning. It just happens. Other times, you’ve heard rumblings and even felt the buzz, so you’ve got an idea that there may be something special going on.

Art is subjective. No question. But even in the midst of a subjective form of creativity, there are still some moments when most people would say, “Wow!”.

Ennio Morricone’s score to ‘The Mission’

The opening of ‘Saving Private Ryan’ on Omaha Beach.

The first scene when Carrie Ann Moss jumps up in slow motion and the camera(s) spin around in ‘The Matrix’

For me, I watched ‘Wicked’ on Broadway with not a lot of prepping. I knew it was supposedly amazing, but I didn’t have a clue. I’m watching it. It is truly phenomenal. BUT THEN they start singing, ‘For Good’. Still, to this day, I get goosebumps (chicken skin as my sister calls it). I KNEW I was hearing one of ‘those songs’.

In the world of church music, the first time you hear Keith and Stuart’s ‘In Christ Alone’ may be one of those moments.

My wife and I were on staff (for 10+ years) at The People’s Church in Franklin, TN. A few years back, the church had decided to do a live worship CD. Michael Neale was the worship leader. My wife, Dana, is a session singer and she was asked to sing on stage for the live worship recording. I stayed home with the kiddos (school nite/bedtime). She came home and said, “It was good. There are some good songs. But there is one GREAT song. You’ll really like it.”

Thus was my introduction to Krissy Nordhoff and Michael Neale’s, ‘Your Great Name.’

My wife, was (or course), right. It really is such a great worship song. Great lyrics. Strong melody. And a well crafted build with some nice moments in it.

When looking at worship songs to include in our new ‘Horns & Rhythm’ Retro Worship collection, I just knew we HAD to include it.

I based my arrangement off of The People’s Church recording version from the ‘Shine Out’ CD. This arrangement is an instrumental feature. On the recording, it is a guitar solo taking the lead. This arrangement is in Bb and works great as a congregational arrangement as well so you could open the service one week with the instrumental version and you could use the congregational arrangement that day or another day.

For more information about the arrangement and the entire series, click here.

So how about you? When have you had moments where you heard a song or watched a movie or watched a musical and you ‘just knew it’?

(Here’s a little bit of the back story of Michael and Krissy writing ‘Your Great Name’

Double click below to hear a sample of the recording:

Your Great Name (works as congregational accompaniment as well)

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The ‘fun’ moments in my trumpet career (and what arrangers need to learn about trumpets!)

When school starts back up for the Fall in just a few weeks, I will have been playing trumpet for 30 years of my 42 years on this planet. According to one of the algebraic equations I remember from my youth, that means I have been playing trumpet for about 71% of my life.

I have had some amazing opportunities in my life of trumpet playing so far. I’ve had the opportunity to tour professionally with the group TRUTH back in the 90s sitting next to one of my dear friends and first call trumpet player here in Nashville, Steve Patrick. I played trumpet on a CD with Jody Benson (Ariel-The Little Mermaid). I’ve played (and gotten paid) to play in a symphony, in a number of musicals, wedding receptions, numerous times in recording sessions, a touring big band out of Nashville and tons of college big bands, marching bands, wind ensembles and brass ensembles.

There have been a LOT of great memories playing trumpet.And…well…there have been a number of not so great memories playing trumpet.

1. When I play solos in church, I typically go for more mellow, flugelhorn type solos. I tend to stay away from flashy, fanfare type things generally speaking. I decided once to play Bugler’s Holiday in church as a solo (this is a trumpet trio AND should STAY a trumpet trio by the way). I thought I’d ‘show off’ a little, play some fast double tonguing and wow the folks. Not really the best attitude and well….I start it off too slow, so the double tonguing is just too slow to double tongue and slightly too fast to single tongue so it was in a weird middle spot. I get to the end of the song. There’s a little fanfare triplet thing that ends on a High C. Not a big deal, but I took it too slow, there weren’t any rests and well…I go for the high C 3 times (and miss every time-playing a Bb) and finally just end on a Low C and then try to casually walk/run off the stage in utter embarrassment.

2. I was playing in my college jazz band and had a trumpet solo feature on ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’. The jazz band was being featured live on the radio. We ran through the song in what I was thinking was sound check, but I was completely sure and because of that, I went ahead and played full on. The end of the song didn’t really have ANY breaks for the soloist so when I finished, I was pretty tired. Then, about 5 minutes later, we actually did it live. I was shot. Nada. Bupkus. So far, this recording hasn’t surfaced on YouTube and I’m grateful. I played ‘most’ of the notes but my tone was bad, I was out of tune and I just couldn’t make it through to the end. And on top of that there were spots where I hit a note, then the band, then I hit a note, then the band. Well…yeah. it was horrible. To this day, when I see/talk to the band director, that one moment comes to my mind.

Both of those moments are completely my fault. Full responsibility here. No question. I was going through some weird embouchure issues (and I later learn that my set-up was not great), but but but there is a similarity in both of the above ‘awesome’ (cough, cough) moments in my career.

Endurance.

Plain and simple.

Making it to the end of the song and finishing strong.

With my composing, arranging and orchestrating, I have the opportunity to write for all different sorts of groups. In the past 2 months, I have written for full orchestra, pro horn section, full big band, marching band and a wind ensemble/chorale group. When I am writing for ‘weekend warriors’ (folks that play on Sundays and rehearse on Wednesdays and that’s it), I really try to be mindful of how long I’m keeping the horns on their faces to try and help as much as possible for them to have a positive experience. Basically, I’d like them not to have a blog post like #1 and #2 above at some point in their life.

And there is one thing that I try to do when writing for brass players (trumpeters especially) that I think MANY arrangers do a pretty terrible job at when writing for ‘weekend warrior/volunteer’ type groups. And in all honesty, it’s a pretty simple fix.

GET THE HORN OFF THE FACE NEAR THE END OF THE SONG IF THEY ARE ENDING ON SOMETHING HIGH!!!!!

Sometimes, the idea of endurance isn’t just the one song they are playing, it’s the fact that they’ve played 4 songs before this AND it’s the 3rd service that morning AND they did a complete sound check before the first service. I know there are plenty of discussion points in regards to building chops, having additional players, and being able to handle the part you’ve been given. BUT one of the things I try to do when writing smaller ensemble pieces is be aware of the possible situations the players may be in and try to help them out. Whenever possible, I just try to give the lead trumpet a moment near the end to get the horn off the face. This is not one of those things where they need to rest for 12 bars before the last note. Not at all. You still have to be able to play. BUT, I like to give them options when possible. Here is a sample from our Master’s Brass Quintet Series that shows a couple of of ways that I like to try and ‘help out’ the lead trumpet.

(Disclaimer:I am NOT talking about studio musicians who play 6-9 hours a day or for monster players. I am talking about someone who’s picked up their horn after 20 years, is slowly getting his chops back and LOVES to play trumpet at church. I’m talking about folks who can get tired playing through 3 services on a Sunday morning)

I’ll break down a couple ideas here:

1. Top of the page (m. 46-51). This is not necessarily high for lead trumpeters. For some ‘weekend warriors’ however, it could be a little. And if they’ve been playing a bunch that morning, this could just take a little bit of effort. The 4 bars before that (m. 42) the 2nd trumpet is building up. So instead of both trumpets building, I have the 2nd trumpet build for 4 bars and then the 1st trumpet comes in.

2. Section C has a number of 2 measure rests throughout it. Couple reasons here. If this is the 5th song that Sunday and it’s the offertory special (this is a brass quintet arrangement), it is ‘possible’ that the lead trumpet could be a little tired. (or a lot!). So I’ve built in 2 bars, 2 bars, 1 bar, 2 bars and 3 bars rest before we get to the end of the song. This allows him time to get the horn off his face before the end of the song.

3. ‘all in unis.’ This has become one of my trademarked (not ® obviously) things I like to do when possible. The power of the trumpets in unison is GREAT! There’s one other benefit that happens. It’s a ‘just in case’ moment for the lead trumpet. We do this all the time at churches where I’m playing. If the lead guy is finding out that he’s getting a little tired, I like to give him a measure or so near the end where if he needs to, he could take the horn off the face. This is EXACTLY why m. 68-70 are written this way. If this is one of those days, like me in ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ and my chops are funky, the lead trumpet can sit out for those 2 1/2 measures and let the other trumpets play those measures and simply come in when it goes to divisi. Yes, I know it’s more powerful with more trumpets, but if the lead guy needs the break, he can take it. If he doesn’t, GREAT!

4. A quarter rest. This doesn’t seem like a big deal to non brass players. BUT BUT BUT to brass players, this is a big deal. In measures 71 and 73, I put a quarter rest on beat 1. It’s a musical choice, sure. BUT it’s also a endurance/awareness choice. There are many arrangers who write for church orchestras who have no clue how much of a difference that one beat makes. They just don’t get it. I wish they did. It would help so much in volunteer groups. I was taught by some great trumpet teachers and they told me if I have a beat, get the horn off the face for the beat. I do that. It really does help. It just gets the blood flowing again and helps with endurance.

These are just a few of the things that I try to do when writing for brass players to help them have positive and #winning (thank you Mr. Sheen) moments in church. I am NOT talking about when I’m writing for professional studio musicians for a big band, film score or symphony. But, I do at least think about the brass when I’m writing for those groups. I won’t give this many opportunities for the brass (this is an extreme example with a lot of ‘outs’) in the studio, but I will be thinking about how tired they may be near the end of the cue or the track. That keeps their chops more fresh and we get to do fewer takes and that saves money.

I wish that those folks who write for church orchestras with volunteer players would realize how much of a difference simply giving the brass guys a chance to get the horn off the face would make in the playing of their arrangements.

If one less trumpeter in the world doesn’t have a huge list of ‘humbling’ experiences in church, then this is worth it.

#givetheleadtrumpetplayerabreak

This arrangement sample taken from The Master’s Brass Quintet Series, Volume 7

A quick video overview of our Retro Worship collection from our Horns & Rhythm series

Some folks like to read information about a project. For others, a visual is easier to help you wrap your head around a project. I’m more of a visual guy, so here is a quick video overview of our  Retro Worship collection from our Horns & Rhythm series. Similar in idea to our Retro Hymns project, we have taken modern worship songs and gone ‘back in time’ a little bit. This time, towards the 1980s. This means you’ll hear some synths, some old school rock guitars and, of course, a horn section.

If you are a rhythm section driven church and are looking for something different for a Sunday, this project would be GREAT for you. If you don’t feature horns every week, this collection works great! Use these arrangements as openers and during the offertory (and at the end of the service) to add energy, excitement and ‘something different’ to your worship service.

But along with the ‘something different’ mindset, the real benefit of this series is one thing:

Inclusionary

Simply put, you allow more folks to use their gifts in worship in a creative way that will ABSOLUTELY WORK in today’s contemporary style! Horns were very prominent in the 1980s, and the Christian industry followed suit in the late 80s into the 90s. This is the time. Horns are back! Horns are cool! Horns WORK IN TODAY’S CONTEMPORARY STYLE.

Enough talk. Here’s the video overview of the series:

For more information, to hear more audio samples and to purchase the complete set of the Retro Worship arrangements, click here

Retro Worship (Something New. Something Familiar. Something Different. Something Fresh.)

What if today’s worship songs were recorded in the 1980s?

What musical influences would you hear?

Would there be hints of Boston, Journey, Genesis and even Bon Jovi?

And…Just how much reverb and delay would there be on the saxophone?

In true Horns & Rhythm fashion, we have taken 10 popular and familiar worship songs of today and tried to imagine what they might have sounded like in the 1980s. But we’re not using a can of hair spray per person and we certainly are not trying on M.C. Hammer’s parachute pants. Well…at least not in public.

Why?

As light hearted as I’m being in describing the series, the reason for this series is very intentional. The purpose lines up with our mission statement here at AnderKamp Music.

AnderKamp Music provides world-class, yet accessible music for churches, giving instrumentalists the opportunity to use their gifts to glorify God.

As the ‘sound’ of the modern church has transitioned to a rhythm section, many traditional orchestra members have not found a place where they can use their gifts to glorify God. Your church may still be utilizing a full orchestra (Praise God!) but many churches are not using any instrumentalists outside of a rhythm section.
The Horns and Rhythm series was created to let the modern rhythm section driven church hear arrangements that creatively use horn sections in a way to add to their worship experience and incorporate more players.

Along with the inclusion factor, many churches that are rhythm section only are looking for ways to change things up and not have the ‘same old, same old’ sound every week. Well Retro Worship from our Horns & Rhythm series absolutely allows you to change things up, open the worship service in a fresh and exciting way AND include more instrumentalists in worship.

BUT this series is not just for a horn section plus rhythm. Not at all. We are providing additional parts (not on the recording) for woodwinds, strings and additional brass to allow a full orchestra to play this series if you are looking for a creative way to include full orchestra in modern worship.
Instrumentation: 2 trumpets, 2 saxes, 2 trombones and rhythm section
Written out piano/synth and bass parts
Additional parts for woodwinds, strings and addtional brass

This fun, challenging series will be a HUGE HIT to everyone and will add a ton of energy to a service!

Song Titles: Open the Eyes of My Heart • Our God • Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) • Let God Arise • Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) • Everlasting God • Mighty to Save • Revelation Song • 10000 Reasons • Your Great Name

To purchase the Pre-Release Special (this week only) and to hear audio samples, click here

Let There Be Instruments!

Happy New Year from AnderKamp Music. I pray 2013 is an amazing year for all of us. I look forward to see what God has planned for each of us this year!

As you are beginning your new year, I want to let you know about a few instrumental projects that we have that may interest you.

Horns & Rhythm – Retro Hymns

Horns & Rhythm-Retro Hymns is a series of instrumental arrangements of some classic hymns with a twist…a RETRO Twist.

We have taken the feels/grooves of some of the classic 1970s funk tunes and ‘funkified’ the hymns.

INSTRUMENTATION:2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 saxes and rhythm

ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENTATION:Flute 1 & 2, Oboe, Clarinet 1 & 2, Violin 1 & 2, Viola, Cello and Bass

Here’s a video description/sample of one of the songs:

8 Core Orchestra Series

The 8 Core Orchestra Series is a full orchestral instrumental series based around a core group of 8 players plus piano/rhythm. With just the 8 core minimum group, this series allows for maximum flexibility to grow with your group.

Here’s a video description of the series:

 Strings & Things

Strings & Things is a string ensemble series (with percussion-the ‘things’) that has a film score sort of feel. Think John Barry (Out Of Africa or Dances With Wolves) and take a listen to What A Friend We Have In Jesus below. This is a great way to feature your strings in a beautiful way that everyone will love!

click below to listen to What a Friend We Have In Jesus

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Cyber Monday sale on great instrumental Christmas music

Cyber Monday special going on right now (Monday, November 26, 2012)

50% off from 9am-12pm (Eastern)

30% off from 12pm-3pm (Eastern)

20% off from 3pm-6pm (Eastern)

Use the code CyberMonday at checkout to take advantage of this one day discount

If you are ordering for your church, we can bill the church if you place the order today and still give you the discount. Just send us an email (from a church email address).

how about a brass group in the lobby at Christmas?

Every year during the Christmas season, we have a brass choir/ensemble play in the lobby in between services. The brass guys love to play and it really helps get all the folks in the Christmas spirit. If you have any brass players in your church, now is the perfect time to get them together to do a concert between services. They can also play in the local mall on a weekend which serves as a great outreach to the community.

I don’t know if we can pull it off.

Yes you can. It’s not that difficult to find some brass players (go to ANY local high school). We’ve got the perfect music for you. I know that because we use A Season for Brass EVERY YEAR to play in the lobby at church and everyone loves it.

For more information about the series or to order today and download the arrangements immediately, click here

For more information about the series, we created a video to tell you about the series.

Want to do some big band Christmas tunes but don’t have a big band?

Do you really wish you could do some big band type Christmas arrangements this year but you just don’t have a ‘big band’?

No problem.

We’ve created the AK Little Big Band which is a series of arrangements written/recorded for full big band BUT the arrangements will work with a smaller horn section (2/2/2). If you’ve got a couple trumpets, saxes and trombones, then you can play these arrangements. If you’ve got a full big band (or anything in between), you’ll simply add more energy and excitement to these arrangements.

You can order the complete set of arrangements as downloadable files and have the music for your next rehearsal! Written out piano parts are provided to help your rhythm section get the ‘groove’ of these charts.

For more information about the series, click here

Here is some more information about the series in video format so you can hear and see the charts: