Dinosaur Stomp: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Playful and percussive, with the stomp-and-shuffle energy of something ancient and heavy moving across the earth. The wind instruments carry the melodic conversation while the percussion drives the action, creating a piece that feels choreographed as much as it feels composed.

Grade 2 concert bands looking for repertoire that entertains without talking down to students. It works equally well for groups building ensemble cohesion and for programs that value humor as a legitimate teaching tool.

• Rehearse the foot stomps as carefully as any rhythmic section; they need to lock with the percussion parts to create the full effect.
• Find a venue with resonant wooden flooring if possible. The acoustic difference between a carpeted gymnasium and a hardwood stage fundamentally changes how the piece lands.
• Highlight the question and answer material in sectional rehearsals by having each group really "listen" to the other before answering, rather than rushing into their response.
• Lean into the comedic timing. Dinosaurs aren't subtle, and neither should this piece be; let the exaggeration and drama live in your ensemble's playing.

Perfect as a novelty opener on a family concert or as a between-pieces energy reset when you need to shift the mood. The brief running time and accessible difficulty make it an ideal complement to longer works on the same program.

• Call and response phrasing in ensemble context
• Rhythmic precision with foot stomps integrated into instrumental parts
• Wind and percussion balance and communication
• Sustained musical phrases at Grade 2 reading level
• Ensemble listening and response timing