Grade 2 Concert Band Music

Teachers keep coming back to Arabian Dances by Roland Barrett and Tripwire by JaRod Hall for their musicality and student appeal. The Great Locomotive Chase by Robert W. Smith and Metal Bell Carol by Brian Balmages are widely adopted choices that balance technical growth with engaging material.

Recent additions include Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson, Defying the Machine and Metal Bell Carol by Brian Balmages, Foothill March and At Fate's Door by JaRod Hall, Mountain Music Throwdown by Scott Watson, and Noche de Brujas by Michael Story.

Robert W. Smith brings his prolific output to this collection with accessible original works like The Great Locomotive Chase. With over 400 publications and a background in music education, Smith writes concert band literature that programs well and keeps young players engaged.

Brian Balmages stands out for work that spans orchestral, band, and chamber idioms with equal facility. His compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and his Grade 2 pieces like Metal Bell Carol bring that same care for craft to early intermediate ensembles.

Robert Sheldon, one of the most performed wind band composers today, contributes music shaped by his authorship of Sound Innovations for Concert Band. His works resonate with both students and audiences, grounded in a philosophy that expression matters at every level.

Michael Story's recent addition Noche de Brujas represents his gift for writing program music that captures student imagination while building technique.