Go Time!: Tuba
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 4
Item: 00-PC-0019642_TB1
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Description
Experience the rush of Go Time! This high-energy piece by Brian Balmages blends elements of rock, funk, and jazz. A relentless pulse combines with dynamic meter changes, a cooking percussion section, and a clever saxophone feature before building to an intense, celebratory finale. Get ready for the ultimate feel-good closer that will leave audiences breathless! (4:10)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Go Time!: Tuba 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:
MakeMusic Symphonic Band
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019642_TB1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built an international reputation as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber music repertoires. His works have been premiered and performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to elementary school bands in some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association. His composition Love and Light won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest.
Balmages has guest conducted at major conferences and festivals throughout North America and internationally, and maintains active conducting relationships with all-state, regional, and university ensembles. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has received commissions from major institutions including the University of Miami. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages knows exactly how to construct a closing number that lands. The rhythm section and saxophone work together to create momentum that feels genuinely earned rather than artificially inflated, and the meter changes arrive with purpose rather than gimmickry. Your band will feel the energy shift in real time, and your audience will leave the concert on a high.
What to expect
Go Time! pulses with urgency and swagger. The rock and funk influences give it an edge that standard concert band fare rarely has, while the jazz inflections keep it grounded in musicianship. By the final measures, your band will feel like they've taken the audience on a complete journey from groove to celebration.
Who it's for
Grade 4 concert bands looking for a contemporary closer that blends accessibility with genuine musical interest. Directors who want a feel-good finale without sacrificing rhythmic sophistication will find a strong choice here.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the percussion section into the relentless pulse early in rehearsals. This foundation lets the horns and woodwinds add texture without losing propulsion.
- Highlight the saxophone feature by balancing the rest of the ensemble back slightly when this section enters. Let the saxophone breathe and shine.
- Bring the meter changes into focus through conductor clarity and sectional work. Mark the transition points explicitly so players anticipate the shift rather than react to it.
- Build the final section with intentional dynamic control. Resist the urge to jump to full volume immediately; let the intensity grow phrase by phrase into the climax.
How to use it
This is designed to close a concert with momentum and style. Use it as your final piece when you need the audience to leave energized, or program it strategically before a brief intermission to maintain high energy through a program transition. The 4-minute duration fits comfortably into standard concert slots.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing dynamic meter changes within a continuous groove
- Maintaining pulse precision through rhythmic complexity
- Balancing ensemble sound to showcase featured soloists (saxophone)
- Shaping energy and dynamics across a building formal structure
- Interpreting contemporary rock, funk, and jazz stylistic elements in concert band context