Futurescape: 1st Percussion
By Todd Stalter
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0019674_PC1
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Description
Described as a way to envision the potential impact of an idea by creating a tangible experience of the future it could create, Futurescape, by Todd Stalter, is an attempt to portray that concept through sound. Modal harmonies and bold, sweeping lyrical themes give us a cinematic sense of an adventurous unknown, eventually arriving at a confident and hopeful conclusion.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Futurescape: 1st Percussion 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:
Developing Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019674_PC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Todd Stalter
Todd Stalter spent 34 years leading the band program at Eureka High School in Illinois, where his ensembles earned a statewide reputation for musical excellence. The EHS Marching Band captured 16 Class 1A state championships, the Concert Band consistently achieved Superior ratings at IHSA contests, and both groups performed at venues including Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Walt Disney World. Stalter was inducted into the Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame.
Beyond his teaching career, Stalter has conducted All-State Bands in Georgia and Delaware, led numerous regional honor bands, and worked regularly as an adjudicator and clinician for solo and large group evaluations. His compositions for band and string orchestra are performed across the United States and appear on state contest and festival lists. Many of his works are featured in the "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series published by GIA. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Illinois State University.
Why we love this
Stalter crafts music that speaks directly to developing ensembles without condescension. The modal harmonies and sweeping themes create genuine cinematic impact at a Grade 1.5 level, giving your band an immediately rewarding musical statement. The piece works equally well as a contest selection or a concert anchor, offering both musical substance and the confidence-building payoff that early-grade bands need.
What to expect
Futurescape unfolds like a journey into unfamiliar but welcoming terrain. Modal harmonies create a sense of wonder and possibility, while bold, sweeping melodic lines suggest adventure and scope. The piece gradually builds confidence and clarity, arriving at a conclusion that feels genuinely hopeful rather than merely bright.
Who it's for
Grade 1.5 concert bands with solid fundamentals who are ready for music with genuine artistic intent. Stalter writes accessibly without simplifying the musical vision, making this ideal for bands preparing for contests, festivals, or a meaningful concert moment.
How to get the most out of it
- Bring out the lyrical themes through careful phrase shaping; even at this accessible level, the melodic lines deserve expressive breathing and dynamic contour.
- Balance the modal harmonies so they support rather than muddy the melodic content. Sectional awareness of chord color will sharpen the cinematic quality.
- Shape the journey toward the hopeful conclusion deliberately. The arrival should feel earned, not rushed; let the ensemble feel the emotional arc they're building.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a contest or festival submission, where its musical substance and accessible difficulty level allow the ensemble to focus on artistic execution. It also works beautifully as an opener or closer for a concert aimed at showcasing the band's artistic growth, particularly when paired with slightly more established repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing and shaping lyrical melodic lines
- Balancing harmonic color while maintaining clarity
- Reading and executing modal harmonic contexts
- Building musical narratives across longer formal structures
- Ensemble blend and intonation in non-traditional harmonic contexts