Grasp the Dream: Score
By Brad Ciechomski
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0003443
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Description
When dreams come true, it is often due to good planning and hard work. This piece was composed to celebrate the opening of a new school, and the premiere performance was part of the celebration ceremony to honor all those who envisioned this project and saw it to completion. Grasp the Dream is a celebratory piece that can serve as an exciting concert opener or contest selection for your program. The character of the music is ideal for ceremonies, new beginnings, and other commemorative occasions.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Grasp the Dream: 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:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
250
SKU:
00-PR-0003443
More about this title
About the Composer: Brad Ciechomski
Brad Ciechomski directs bands at Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth, Maine, where he was recognized as teacher of the year in 2005-2006 and received the American Star of Teaching award in 2008. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of New Hampshire, where he studied composition with Andrew Boysen Jr., and has since received commissions from bands at every level from elementary through college.
Beyond the classroom, Ciechomski remains deeply active as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout New England. He is also an accomplished freelance drummer who has performed with jazz luminaries including Clark Terry, Mel Torme, Bob Mintzer, and the New York Voices, as well as rock legend David Crosby. He lives in Portland, Maine with his family.
Why we love this
A Grade 2 opener that lands with genuine impact rather than oversimplified bombast. Ciechomski understands what middle school bands need: an accessible piece that sounds substantial enough to command respect at a concert and contains the musical substance to hold up in a contest setting. The celebratory character feels earned rather than plastered on.
What to expect
Uplifting and triumphant, with the kind of earnest optimism that works for new beginnings and milestone moments. The orchestration carries brightness and forward momentum, creating a sense of collective achievement without sounding saccharine.
Who it's for
Middle school concert bands looking for a substantial opener that feels ceremonial without being weighty or pretentious. This is ideal for programs that want to build ensemble confidence through a success experience, whether for a regular concert, festival performance, or competition.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melodic lines with clear phrase direction rather than playing note to note; even at this level, students will respond to your conducting if you show them where each phrase breathes.
- Balance the inner harmonic voices so the foundational layers speak clearly; this makes the piece sound fuller and gives students rhythmic security.
- Match articulation across sections precisely during the rhythmic passages; uniform tonguing and release transform written figures into unified gestures.
- Build the dynamic arc over the full arc of the piece rather than placing all climactic energy in isolated spots; this sustains the celebratory mood without sounding rushed.
How to use it
Use this as your opening number at a regular concert or competition to establish confidence and energy right away. It also fits naturally into programs centered on school celebrations, dedications, or any occasion calling for a piece that honors accomplishment and forward momentum.
Skills your students will build
- Stylistic control of articulation across a full ensemble
- Phrase shaping and dynamic arc over longer formal structures
- Part independence within harmonic contexts
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures
- Balance of melody and accompaniment textures