Funky, Rockin' Choo Choo: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Richard L. Saucedo
Grade: 1.5
Item: 35-PK00179264
$45.00
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Description
What kid doesn't love a train! This entertaining and fun piece for beginning bands calls for some lucky student (or administrator) to be featured on a wooden train whistle (the cheap kind!). Along the way, you can teach musical concepts of style, articulation, and steady pulse. All aboard! Dur: 2:10
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00179264
More about this title
About the Composer: Richard L. Saucedo
Richard L. Saucedo spent 31 years as Director of Bands and Performing Arts Chair at Carmel High School in Indiana, where he built one of the nation's most decorated band programs. His ensembles earned state and national titles across concert, jazz, and marching categories, including Carmel's Wind Symphony I performing at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival three times and the Marching Greyhounds finishing in the top ten at BOA Nationals for 17 consecutive years with two national championships.
Saucedo's contributions to music education extend far beyond his classroom. He was named Indiana's Bandmaster of the Year in 1998-99, inducted into both the Music for All Hall of Fame (2015) and Drum Corps International Hall of Fame (2022), and serves as an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association. As a freelance arranger and composer, he creates works across marching bands, concert bands, choral groups, and orchestras. He also serves as Senior Educational Consultant for Music for All and Bands of America, bringing decades of expertise to competitions and educational initiatives nationwide.
Why we love this
A working director who understands what keeps young musicians engaged wrote this one, and it shows. The train whistle feature gives every student a reason to care about the performance, while the piece itself teaches articulation clarity and rhythmic precision without feeling like a lesson. Saucedo's track record with beginning ensembles means every note lands where it should.
What to expect
Playful energy moves the piece forward like a train building steam. The combination of rhythmic vitality, clear harmonic motion, and that charming whistle creates a lighthearted but musically intentional piece that feels rewarding to perform rather than condescending.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands (Grade 1.5) who need an accessible piece that still demands musical thinking and attention to articulation and style. It works equally well for ensembles building confidence early in the year or looking for a lighter concert opener that engages the audience and students alike.
How to get the most out of it
- Feature the train whistle prominently in rehearsal long before performance. Have the student practice the specific rhythm pattern independently so the entrance feels confident rather than novelty.
- Lock the steady pulse in your conducting during the "choo choo" sections. Beginners often rush these rhythmic figures, so a clear beat pattern prevents the momentum from derailing.
- Shape the articulation distinctly in rehearsal by asking students to isolate tongue placement on the marked staccato notes. Use the recording as a reference to match attack clarity.
- Build dynamic contrast through the piece gradually. Most Grade 1.5 bands default to one volume, so taking time to mark and shape soft and loud passages gives the arrangement room to breathe.
How to use it
Open a fall or winter concert with this to immediately connect with your audience and set a fun tone. Its 2:10 duration makes it ideal as a pacing piece between weightier concert band selections, or use it early in the season to establish basics of style and articulation while keeping rehearsal energy high.
Skills your students will build
- Articulation control and clarity in staccato passages
- Maintaining steady pulse under rhythmic variations
- Stylistic consistency in funk/rock groove
- Dynamic contrast and shaping
- Ensemble balance and togetherness in fast figures