Heavy Metal: B-flat Bass Clarinet
Low Brass Section Feature
By Scott Watson
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0014859_BC
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
"Heavy Metal" has the right elements to get young players excited about band! With its driving rock beat, catchy hook, and infectious power chord rhythm, your students will beg you to rehearse it and be excited about performing it in concert. And what's more, this little gem features your band's own "heavy metal" section, the low brass (doubled for confidence), with prominent yet playable parts. (1:50)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Heavy Metal: B-flat Bass Clarinet comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
118
SKU:
00-PC-0014859_BC
More about this title
About the Composer: Scott Watson
Scott Watson brings three decades of public school teaching experience to his work as a composer and clinician. After leading the instrumental program at Parkland School District in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he built both high school bands and an elementary strings curriculum, he now serves as Associate Professor of Music at Cairn University. His catalog of more than 120 published works spans concert band, string orchestra, and chamber repertoire across all difficulty levels, informed by his background in both contemporary classical music and practical band pedagogy.
Watson's compositions have been performed at major venues including the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, the Midwest Clinic, and the White House. He is an exclusive composer and clinician for Alfred Publications and has authored a recognized text on music education technology. His clinics and guest conducting appearances regularly support festival and honor bands nationwide.
Why we love this
Watson understands what makes young musicians want to rehearse a piece, and "Heavy Metal" delivers exactly that: a rock-driven arrangement with genuine energy and a hook that students will remember after a single hearing. The intelligent doubling of low brass parts shows a composer who knows Grade 1 bands often lack experienced players in that section, yet refuses to write weak parts. This is accessible writing that respects both the players and the audience.
What to expect
High-energy without complexity. "Heavy Metal" captures the driving swagger of rock music through clear rhythmic figures and bold harmonic movement, delivered in a package young musicians can execute with confidence. The arrangement sits comfortably under the fingers and breath, letting students focus on groove and ensemble balance rather than technical struggle.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands ready to program something modern and engaging without sacrificing musicality. Students who respond to contemporary idioms and directors seeking repertoire that builds excitement for rehearsal and performance alike.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the rock groove before tackling articulation; get your drummers locking the beat together first, then layer in the winds.
- Keep the power chords punchy and uniform across the low brass; rhythmic clarity matters more than volume at this level.
- Let the hook breathe. Resist the urge to rush the catchy riff; clarity serves the arrangement better than speed.
- Balance the doubled low brass parts by assigning them deliberately rather than assuming all available players double; Watson's doubling is a confidence tool, not a requirement.
How to use it
Program this as an audience favorite on a concert that includes contrasting styles, or open a pop or contemporary music festival with it to set an energetic tone. Its accessible difficulty makes it an ideal confidence builder earlier in the school year, and the rock idiom pairs well alongside educational arrangements of familiar pop songs or brief classical selections.
Skills your students will build
- Articulation and rhythmic precision in rock idioms
- Low brass intonation and part independence within doubled voicings
- Groove and ensemble rhythm in non-traditional meters or syncopated patterns
- Balance and blend within a full concert band texture
- Contemporary music performance practices