Flight of the Flutes (Showcasing the Flute Section): Score
Showcasing the Flute Section
By James D. Ployhar
Grade: 3 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0001198
$10.00
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Description
The flute section takes front and center to display their finger dexterity in this novel James D. Ployhar original tune. The flutists are sometimes overlooked as they provide the filigree to many instrumental works. Mix it up and let them be the focus of attention with this feature. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Flight of the Flutes (Showcasing the Flute Section): Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
65
SKU:
00-PR-0001198
More about this title
About the Composer: James D. Ployhar
James D. Ployhar has shaped music education through over 800 published compositions and decades of classroom experience. He authored the Contemporary Band Course, now published by Alfred Music and used in schools and music programs worldwide, including extensive adoption throughout Norway. His orchestration study with Knud Havalde of the Danish Royal Philharmonic Orchestra informs the sophisticated yet accessible writing that defines his catalog.
Beyond the page, Ployhar has served as both a public school teacher for 19 years and a frequent clinician at universities across the United States, Canada, and Europe. His contributions to the field earned him the National Band Association Citation of Excellence and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Valley City State University. His education includes degrees from Valley City State University and Northern Colorado University, plus graduate composition study at California State University, Long Beach.
Why we love this
Ployhar understands what keeps flutists engaged. Rather than relegating the section to harmonic filler, he writes genuinely idiomatic passagework that spotlights their agility and musicianship while remaining Grade 3 accessible. The novelty genre and section feature format make this an excellent vehicle for recognizing your flute players in a way that feels earned rather than novelty for its own sake.
What to expect
Energetic and playful, with quick fingerwork that sparkles. The flute writing sings above the band's foundation, creating moments of genuine lightness and character that remind listeners why the flute section matters to the ensemble's voice.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the Grade 3 level seeking to highlight their flute section with music that showcases technical ability without overextending players. Directors looking for engaging novelty repertoire that still demands serious musical attention from ensemble members will find this an ideal fit for a special feature or mixed concert program.
How to get the most out of it
- Mark the tempo carefully during the first rehearsal; once flutists hear the articulation patterns clearly established, they'll lock into the rhythmic drive faster.
- Balance the flute lines with the rest of the band deliberately lighter than usual. These players are carrying the musical story, so resist the urge to cover them.
- Isolate the flute parts in sectional rehearsal to nail the finger work and passages that move quickly. A run-through with just the flutes and accompaniment rhythm section reveals whether articulation is precise.
- Encourage vibrato development during the longer sustained notes; this feature gives flutists room to sing through their lines and adds warmth to the ensemble's upper register.
How to use it
Program this as a special feature within a concert that includes fuller band arrangements; it refreshes the ear and shifts focus to chamber-like articulation and individual musicianship. The novelty designation and moderate difficulty make it an excellent choice for mid-season programming or as a showpiece at a spring concert after winter technical development.
Skills your students will build
- Finger dexterity and articulation clarity in rapid passagework
- Maintaining steady tempo in virtuosic lines over accompaniment
- Solo awareness and musical phrasing as a featured section
- Rhythmic precision in ornamental figures and filigree writing