Crossroads: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Michael Oare
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK00306614
$55.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Crossroads - Conductor Score (Full Score) | $7.50 | |
| Crossroads - Flute | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Oboe | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Bassoon | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Bb Clarinet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Bb Clarinet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Bb Bass Clarinet | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Eb Alto Saxophone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Eb Alto Saxophone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Bb Tenor Saxophone | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Eb Baritone Saxophone | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Bb Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Bb Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - F Horn | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Trombone | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Baritone B.C. | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Baritone T.C. | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Tuba | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - String Bass | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Percussion 1 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Percussion 2 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Mallet Percussion 1 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Mallet Percussion 2 | $6.00 | |
| Crossroads - Timpani | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Commissioned for the Madison County (IN) Middle School Honor Band, the title and nature of this work references the Indiana state motto, "The Crossroads of America." By contrasting a bold and majestic statement with an invigorating mixed-meter faster section, "Crossroads" portrays two divergent musical paths in an appealing and very attainable work for young bands.
Dur: 3:50
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00306614
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Oare
Michael Oare combines three decades of middle school teaching experience with a prolific compositional output that has earned recognition across the profession. A graduate of Old Dominion University with degrees in both composition and music education, Oare spent 33 years leading the Great Bridge Middle School Bands in Chesapeake, Virginia, where his program achieved an extraordinary record of superior ratings. Two of his compositions appear in GIA Publications' Teaching Music Through Performance series, underscoring his reputation for writing pedagogically sound yet musically substantial work.
Oare's credentials extend well beyond the classroom. He currently conducts the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia Concert Band, serves as an adjudicator, holds ASCAP membership, and performs with the Virginia Wind Symphony. His honors include the 2016 Chesapeake Public Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year award and two citations of excellence from the National Band Association. The breadth of his experience as educator, conductor, and performer informs every note he writes for young musicians.
Why we love this
Oare understands the Grade 2 band's sweet spot: young players need material that feels ambitious without becoming burdensome. The dual-pathway structure here works brilliantly in performance, giving students both a satisfying moment of nobility and the rhythmic engagement they crave, all within a compact 3:50 timeframe that holds attention throughout.
What to expect
The opening unfolds with genuine gravitas, a stately pronouncement that captures Indiana's crossroads identity with architectural clarity. Then the music pivots sharply into a rhythmic forest of energy, where syncopation and meter shifts create forward momentum without losing the listener; it's exhilarating rather than chaotic.
Who it's for
Middle school bands at the Grade 2 level benefit most from this work, particularly those seeking festival or concert material that challenges young musicians without overwhelming them. Directors programming for honor bands, district events, or end-of-year concerts will find the modest scoring and reasonable part difficulty balance well with more familiar repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the majestic opening with deliberate phrasing and careful dynamic control; this section sets the emotional foundation and deserves rehearsal time focused on ensemble balance rather than rushing the notes.
- Lean into the meter changes once you reach the faster section; students will lock in more confidently if you subdivide internally and conduct the beat patterns clearly rather than trying to gloss over the shifts.
- Record a sectional run-through of the mixed-meter material and have students listen before the next rehearsal; hearing themselves navigate the transitions builds confidence and reduces anxiety around the formal reading.
How to use it
Place this early in a concert to establish tone and demonstrate the band's range to the audience. The title and backstory also provide a natural talking point for program notes or conductor remarks, particularly if your school or district has Midwestern connections that resonate with students and families.
Skills your students will build
- Balance and blend in sustained chord structures
- Rhythmic precision in mixed meter (changes between simple and compound feels)
- Clarity of articulation during syncopated passages
- Dynamic control across a wide range from pianissimo to fortissimo
- Sectional independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion