First Winter Suite: Auxiliary Percussion

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

• 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