Glitch: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This piece speaks the language of your students. Rather than asking them to connect with abstract musical forms, Koehn gives them a concrete narrative to inhabit, and the video game aesthetic feels current and genuinely cool. The orchestration is smart for Grade 2.5, with moments for individual sections to shine while keeping the ensemble balance manageable.

Immersive and playful. You're navigating pixelated landscapes and unexpected detours, complete with satisfying moments where everything clicks into place. The energy shifts between mystery and action, keeping performers and listeners equally engaged.

Beginning band students who are past their first year and ready for pieces with real character and storytelling. This works beautifully for groups that appreciate popular culture and need music that validates their musical interests while genuinely stretching their skills.

• Balance the electronic sound effects and glitch moments so they enhance rather than overwhelm the melodic material. Have your students listen to the accompaniment track first to internalize how these layers sit together.
• Attack the rhythmic precision during the gameplay sections. These moments feel chaotic only when the ensemble isn't locked in; tight execution makes the writing sparkle.
• Give your woodwinds space to breathe during the quieter, more mysterious passages. This dynamic contrast is what makes the return to the main theme land with impact.

This is a natural choice for a concert themed around student interests or contemporary music, especially if you're looking to expand what "serious" band literature can be. It also works as a fun, approachable opener that builds audience energy and shows your young musicians that concert band can be exciting.

• Executing rhythmic precision in syncopated, contemporary idioms
• Shaping extended melodic lines across phrase boundaries
• Responding to sudden dynamic and textural changes mid-phrase
• Balancing technical passages with musical expression
• Tracking multiple simultaneous rhythmic layers and entrances