Hack Attack: Score
By Victor López
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0004135
$9.00
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Description
Keep those hackers and slackers engaged with this bluesy rock original. The flatted 3rds and 7ths add the blues flavor, and it shifts between the major and minor mode, but that won't be any problem since they'll be begging to practice this one. Victor López has shared information from his 'international research team' on the topic and the result is this charismatic original work for your beginners. Right in the pocket! (1:45)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Hack Attack: 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:
Belwin Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
144
SKU:
00-PR-0004135
More about this title
About the Composer: Victor López
Victor López is a prolific composer and arranger whose catalog spans concert band, jazz ensemble, and orchestral literature. His work consistently balances accessibility with musical substance, earning him recognition as a leading voice in beginning and intermediate band music. López designs pieces that respect young musicians' intelligence while meeting them where they are technically.
Why we love this
López nails the core challenge of Grade 1 repertoire: writing something musically legitimate that doesn't feel like training wheels. The blues-rock sound creates instant buy-in from students who might otherwise see beginner band as uncool, while the modal shifts and bluesy sonorities actually demand careful listening and ensemble balance. You get a real piece that happens to be accessible.
What to expect
Confident and cool without attitude. The piece grooves with a bluesy swagger, shifting between major and minor in ways that feel natural rather than disorienting. There's a contemporary edge here that speaks to young musicians while staying rooted in genuine blues and rock idioms.
Who it's for
Beginning band students and their directors. This works equally well for a full concert band or a flexible instrumentation setup, making it practical for schools with varied enrollment. The 1:45 length and engaging sound make it a natural opener or closer on a concert where you need immediate engagement without sacrificing musicality.
How to get the most out of it
- Emphasize the shuffle feel in your conducting and rehearsal clicks; the groove won't lock without a relaxed, swung pulse beneath the written rhythms.
- Balance the blues tonality by letting the flatted 3rds and 7ths sit without over-correcting them toward major. These are intentional colors, not mistakes.
- Keep the energy grounded and in the pocket rather than letting tempo drift upward; this piece lives in restraint and pocket playing, not in excitement.
- Give the ensemble permission to commit to the minor-to-major shifts without announcing them as modulations. Let the sound speak for itself.
How to use it
Open a concert with this to signal that your band is playing real music, not just exercises. It pairs well alongside folk-based classics or lyrical pieces, offering contrast without derailing audience attention. The short duration also makes it ideal for a first-half closer before an intermission.
Skills your students will build
- Playing with swing feel and understanding groove-based music
- Navigating modal mixture and major-minor shifts
- Balancing bluesy articulation and phrasing
- Ensemble cohesion in a rhythmically driven context
- Reading and executing flatted scale degrees (blues 3rds and 7ths)