First Winter Suite is a "must-have" for your beginning band library! Tyler S. Grant has crafted a miniature suite of four pieces that are engaging, fun, and practical for their first winter concert! Using only a few-notes and playable with as few as four instruments (flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone), the suite includes: Season's Sounding Fanfare * Roof Riffs (based on "Up on the Housetop") * Escaping the Snowman (Percussion Feature) * and A New Year's Finale (Auld Lang Syne). Each movement is only 20--25 measures. You can supplement the suite with other band selections, chamber groups, or lines from their method book to craft a well-rounded program for all to enjoy! Also included---supplemental percussion parts, play along tracks, and so much more!
Original Item#: TSG-B034
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Tyler S. Grant has built a distinguished career as a composer and arranger whose works appear regularly on state and all-state honor ensemble programs across North America. His compositions have been performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, The Midwest Clinic, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and his fanfare Panoramic Fanfare won the Dallas Wind Symphony's 2014 "Call for Fanfares" Competition. He holds a bachelor's degree in instrumental music education from the University of Alabama and studied conducting with Professor Randall Coleman.
Since 2010, Grant has maintained an active commissioning practice while serving as a clinician with over 100 school instrumental music programs across more than 15 states. He has contributed to Alfred Music's Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development series and regularly conducts at major festivals and state-level honor bands. His mentorship under composer Brian Balmages shaped his approach to writing accessible, engaging music for ensembles of all levels.
Why we love this
This suite solves a real programming challenge for first winter concerts: it delivers musical substance and variety in short, digestible pieces that young players can execute successfully. Grant's careful instrumentation (playable with as few as four instruments) respects the reality of developing bands while the familiar melodies give students and audiences alike moments of recognition and satisfaction.
What to expect
Bright, accessible, and seasonally spirited without sacrificing musicality. Each movement balances simplicity with engaging melodies, giving young players the chance to make real music while enjoying recognizable holiday themes transformed into fresh concert arrangements.
Who it's for
Beginning and early-intermediate concert bands with four or more players per part. This suite works equally well for schools with small ensembles and limited instrumentation or for full bands seeking short, successful winter concert openers that build confidence.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the bright fanfare opening by letting the brass lead without overwhelming the clarinets and flutes; this creates clarity and allows younger players to hear their part's role in the ensemble.
Use the supplemental percussion parts to give non-wind players meaningful contributions, which deepens ensemble ownership and keeps rehearsal time efficient across your entire section.
Lean into the humor of "Escaping the Snowman" by letting the percussion feature shine; young musicians love the storytelling quality of a rhythm-focused movement.
Connect the four movements during rehearsal by discussing the narrative arc of a winter season, which helps students understand transitions and builds concert program coherence.
How to use it
Program the entire suite as your winter concert opener to set an energetic, festive tone; the four short movements allow you to feature different sections and maintain audience interest. Alternatively, program individual movements alongside chamber ensembles or method book selections to create a flexible, well-rounded concert that accommodates varied ensemble levels.
Skills your students will build
Reading and performing at Level 0.5 with limited ledger lines and straightforward rhythms
Blend and balance in small ensemble settings with fewer than five instruments per part
Transitioning between related keys and tempos across connected movements
Performing with percussion accompaniment and responding to rhythm section leadership
Maintaining accurate rhythm and pitch in short, focused concert-ready arrangements
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