Cedar Valley March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD

Cedar Valley March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Cedar Valley March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-19518
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Steve Hodges

Grade: 1.5 (Easy)

Item: 00-19518

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One moment…

This spirited march begins with a dynamic "echo" introduction that leads to the memorable main theme. All sections share the spotlight before transitioning into the contrasting B section with a minor, more lyrical theme. After an understated presentation, this section builds to a big cymbal crash that leads to a repeat of the A section. The coda features a variation of the echo introduction before ending in a dynamic fashion. The vitality of this new work makes Cedar Valley March an ideal concert opener that both the band and audience will enjoy.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Cedar Valley March: 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: Challenger Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 120

UPC: 038081185774

SKU: 00-19518

More about this title

About the Composer: Steve Hodges

Steve Hodges studied music education at Western Oregon University and Central Washington University, earning degrees in both performance and pedagogy. After four decades directing bands, choirs, and ensembles across public school systems, he retired from full-time teaching and turned his considerable experience into a prolific compositional career.

Since 1986, Hodges has written more than 120 concert band works published by Alfred Music, along with choral arrangements for Staff Music and Shawnee Press. His compositions have traveled internationally, appearing at festivals and state conventions while also being commissioned by honor bands and schools throughout North America. His music has reached audiences beyond concert halls through placements on TBS and ESPN programming. Hodges is an ASCAP member and continues to live in The Dalles, Oregon, where he remains active in community music alongside his family.

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Why we love this

Hodges crafts marches that actually engage bands at the Grade 1.5 level without sacrificing musicality. The echo introduction immediately draws listeners in, the minor-key B section provides genuine textural contrast rather than filler, and the strategic placement of that cymbal crash creates a satisfying architectural moment that young musicians feel as much as they play. This is a concert opener that commands attention from measure one.

What to expect

Cedar Valley March radiates straightforward energy and clarity. The echo introduction creates anticipation; the main theme is instantly memorable and gives every section a moment to shine; the minor-key B section shifts the mood inward before exploding back into brightness. There's a sense of forward motion throughout, never settling but never rushing.

Who it's for

Grade 1.5 concert bands ready for a piece that opens strong without overwhelming younger players or understaffed sections. Directors seeking reliable opener material that builds student confidence while impressing audiences will find exactly what they need here.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the echo introduction so the second statement feels like a true response rather than a repetition; tuck the second dynamic layer slightly and let the articulation do the work.
When all sections enter the main theme, resist the urge to add tempo. The joy comes from the accumulated weight, not from rushing.
Bring out the minor-key lyricism in the B section by asking the band to play legato and shape phrases toward the climactic cymbal crash; this contrast makes the return to A far more impactful.
The coda's echo variation can feel rushed by young bands. Hold the ensemble slightly on the opening statement to rebuild energy before the final dynamic push.

How to use it

Program this as your concert or festival opener when you need a piece that settles the audience, warms up your ensemble, and showcases your band's range in five minutes. It pairs well with a lyrical ballad to follow, letting the contrast deepen the impact of both pieces.

Skills your students will build

Executing echo entrances with controlled articulation and balance
Maintaining steady tempo through varied textures and dynamics
Sustaining a lyrical line in minor keys with proper phrase shaping
Responding to architectural cues (the B section's cymbal crash, the coda variation) that define form