Coming Home: Concert Band Conductor Score

Smallman writes Grade 1 parts that sound good without requiring months of rehearsal. The driving bass line gives young musicians something concrete to lock into, while the melody sits in a range where most beginning players can succeed immediately. Your students will genuinely want to perform this piece again and again, which is rare at this level.

Energetic and uplifting, with a forward momentum that comes from the rhythmic bass line. The melodic material is straightforward and memorable, creating an infectious quality that stays with listeners. This is music that makes young musicians feel like real performers.

Young concert bands in their first or second year of combined rehearsal. Directors looking for a piece that teaches fundamentals while sounding genuinely musical to both players and audiences. Perfect for programs that need immediate results without compromise.

• Establish the bass line groove first. Have low brass and percussion lock together before adding the melody, since the piece's infectious quality depends on that rhythmic foundation.
• Balance the melody against the accompaniment. Young musicians often play melody parts too softly; encourage confidence in the tune without letting it get swallowed by the harmonic parts.
• Use this piece as a quick confidence builder early in the season. Its accessibility means you can program it after just a few weeks of rehearsal, giving your band an early success.

Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic tone and build audience connection right away. Program it early in the season when you need a confidence builder, or use it as a contrast piece between heavier works. Its quick learning curve makes it ideal for fall concerts when rehearsal time is still limited.

• Playing with rhythmic precision in a driving pulse
• Balancing melody against harmonic accompaniment
• Understanding basic song form and phrasing
• Maintaining ensemble intonation in block chords