Autopilot: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD

Autopilot: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Autopilot: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-45971
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Chris M. Bernotas

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-45971

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With its catchy melody and exhilarating rhythm, every band member fills an important role in this original composition. The rhythmic theme leads to a legato section before the low brass and winds take over with the melody, finishing strong with the full band coming in for a landing. (2:00) Correlates to Book 1, level 3.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Autopilot: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Sound Innovations for Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 142

UPC: 038081529813

SKU: 00-45971

More about this title

About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas

Chris M. Bernotas directs instrumental publications at Alfred Music, where he shapes curriculum and repertoire for band and orchestra programs across North America and beyond. His 25-plus years in music education span classroom teaching, guest conducting, and clinician work with honor groups and festivals. This sustained contact with students and teachers informs every piece he writes.

Bernotas co-authored the Sound Innovations series alongside core pedagogical resources including Sound Artistry and Sound Performance. His compositions balance immediate appeal with genuine musical substance, a result of understanding firsthand what motivates young musicians and what challenges directors face in the rehearsal room. He remains active as a presenter on conducting, composition, and music education practice.

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Why we love this

Autopilot delivers exactly what Grade 1 bands need: a piece that sounds substantial without overwhelming young players. The architecture is smart, with each section giving different instruments the spotlight so everyone stays engaged. The 2-minute length is ideal for concert openers or festival programming where you want confidence and polish without extended rehearsal investment.

What to expect

Autopilot has the energy of a flying start—catchy, propulsive, and built for momentum. The legato interlude offers space to breathe, almost like banking into a turn, before the full ensemble surges forward with purpose. It lands cleanly and leaves the audience smiling.

Who it's for

Grade 1 concert bands gaining confidence in reading and ensemble balance. Any director programming a short, audience-friendly concert opener or looking for a piece where every section takes a meaningful solo role. This works equally well for groups preparing festival or contest programs.

How to get the most out of it

Isolate the rhythmic theme in the opening by having the entire ensemble lock that pattern during sectionals before adding any melodic material.
Bring out the legato section's warmth by asking players to shape their phrases as if singing; this contrast makes the transition feel intentional rather than abrupt.
Ensure the final full-band section feels genuinely climactic by having the low brass and winds underneath provide a solid, unhurried foundation while the upper voices cut through on top.

How to use it

Open a concert with this to set an energetic tone and showcase your full band sound in miniature. It pairs well alongside slightly longer Grade 1-2 pieces because of its concise runtime; tuck it between a lyrical number and something with more harmonic complexity. Festival adjudicators appreciate pieces where young musicians handle their parts with clarity, and Autopilot delivers that consistently.