Cruisin': Tuba

Owens crafts novelty pieces that actually work in performance without sacrificing musicality. The rock-and-ragtime fusion gives your band genuine stylistic variety without requiring specialized instrumentation, and the optional drum set means you're not locked into a particular lineup. Melodic material cycling through the ensemble keeps everyone engaged and prevents the typical "feature the trumpets" fatigue that comes with lighter works.

Carefree and propulsive, like a road trip with the windows down and the radio turned up. The piece balances comedic lightness with genuine forward momentum, never winking at the audience but delivering the promised good time through rhythmic drive and passing melodic material that keeps the ear moving.

Grade 2 bands ready for something beyond traditional march-based fare but not yet tackling advanced harmonic language. This works equally well as a concert opener for groups that need an accessible fun piece or as a springboard for teaching rock and ragtime vocabulary to younger musicians.

• Let the drum set energy anchor the feel, but don't let it rush the ensemble; keep the rock pulse steady and intentional rather than letting enthusiasm override the tempo.
• Balance the ragtime elements by making sure stride patterns and syncopations land cleanly without muddying the forward motion.
• As melodies pass between sections, highlight the handoff points with slight articulation clarity so the audience follows the conversation.
• The "driving conclusion" needs the full ensemble locked in; rehearse the final passage as a single rhythmic unit to create the rollout effect.

Open a spring or fall concert with this to signal to the audience that your band enjoys what it does. It pairs well on a program with one serious work and one other lighter selection, creating a three-act arc that shows range without asking your ensemble to shift musical gears too drastically.

• Rock and ragtime rhythmic idioms in a concert setting
• Passing melodic material between sections with clarity
• Controlled ensemble energy and forward momentum at faster tempos
• Understanding optional instrumentation and flexibility in scoring