Alarm: Score
By Randall D. Standridge
Grade: 1
Item: 98-DB1832S
$6.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Sound the alarms! This bombastic work will keep your students motivated with searing dissonances, tri-tones and syncopated rhythms. 3-part fully adaptable with percussion and accompaniment. (2:15) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Alarm: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
The ReImagine Initiative
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1832S
More about this title
About the Composer: Randall D. Standridge
Randall D. Standridge is a prolific composer and arranger whose work has become a staple in band and orchestra curricula across North America. His compositions span multiple difficulty levels and ensemble configurations, consistently balancing accessibility with musical substance. Standridge's output reflects a deep understanding of student musicians and the practical realities of school music programs, making him a trusted voice in music education publishing.
Why we love this
Standridge's knack for writing music that energizes students without sacrificing musicality shines here. The orchestration is clever enough to work across multiple instrumentation scenarios, and the percussive elements give rhythm section players genuine material to engage with rather than padding. Directors appreciate pieces that sound impressive in performance while remaining manageable in rehearsal.
What to expect
Alarm erupts with urgency and edge. Dissonant clashes and tritone intervals create deliberate unease, while syncopated rhythms drive the music forward with kinetic energy. The piece thrums with controlled chaos, holding tension throughout its two-minute-fifteen-second span.
Who it's for
This work suits Grade 1 concert bands and flexible ensembles ready for contemporary language and bold textural choices. Programs seeking a short, high-impact contest or festival piece will find immediate success here, and the flexible instrumentation means directors can feature players across their roster.
How to get the most out of it
- Nail the syncopated rhythms early in rehearsal by isolating them without harmony; once students own the rhythmic profile, the dissonances fall into place more naturally.
- Balance the searing dissonances so they register as intentional drama rather than tuning trouble. Lean into the tension rather than backing away from it.
- Lock the percussion and accompaniment parts together first, then layer the three melodic voices on top. This anchors the ensemble and clarifies the harmonic movement.
- Use the tri-tone intervals as character moments. Slight flexibility in articulation or dynamics can highlight these striking sonorities without slowing momentum.
How to use it
Program this as a festival or contest entry to showcase your ensemble's technical chops and ability to handle contemporary sonorities. Its compact length and flexible scoring make it an ideal opener for a concert program or a standout number in a full set. The piece also works well as a season-opening rehearsal challenge that signals to students you're aiming high.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing syncopated rhythmic figures in ensemble context
- Executing dissonant harmonies (tritones and searing intervals) with confidence
- Balancing multiple independent lines while maintaining ensemble cohesion
- Adapting to flexible instrumentation and varying part assignments
- Ensemble intonation across unconventional harmonic language