Heavy Mettle: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Michael Oare
Grade: 1.5
Item: 35-PK01044605
$50.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Mettle - Full Score | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Flute | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Oboe | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bassoon | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bb Clarinet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bb Clarinet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bb Bass Clarinet | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Eb Alto Saxophone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Eb Alto Saxophone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bb Tenor Saxophone | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Eb Baritone Saxophone | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bb Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bb Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - F Horn | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Trombone/Baritone B.C. | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Baritone T.C. | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Tuba | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Percussion 1 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Percussion 2 | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Bells | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Vibraphone | $6.00 | |
| Heavy Mettle - Timpani | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
The title "Heavy Mettle" is naturally a play on words and affectionately refers to the low brass section. Filled with enthusiasm and a resilient spirit, these students are often the foundation and heart of any band. Although not specifically a low brass feature, "Heavy Mettle" is a driving and energetic work that pays tribute to these indispensable players! Dur: 1:50
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01044605
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Oare
Michael Oare has shaped generations of young musicians as the Director of Bands at Great Bridge Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he spent 33 years building a program renowned for consistency and excellence. His students earned superior ratings on the Virginia Concert Band Performance Assessment for 32 of those 33 years, with an unbroken streak of 30 consecutive superior ratings on grade 3 and 4 literature. Beyond the classroom, Oare is an active composer, arranger, and conductor whose works for young ensembles appear in the prestigious Teaching Music Through Performance series published by GIA.
Oare earned dual degrees in Music Composition and Music Education from Old Dominion University and maintains his connection to the broader music education community through memberships in state and national professional organizations, including ASCAP and Phi Beta Mu. His contributions to music education have been recognized with the 2016 Chesapeake Public Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year award, two citations of excellence from the National Band Association, and multiple inclusions in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. He currently conducts the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia Concert Band and performs with the Virginia Wind Symphony.
Why we love this
Oare understands exactly what makes a Grade 1.5 piece land with young musicians: clear writing, immediate energy, and a genuine sense of purpose. By centering this work around low brass without making it a feature, he gives every section something to play for while honoring the backbone of the band. At just under two minutes, it fits naturally into most rehearsal calendars and concert programs while still delivering a complete musical statement.
What to expect
A spirited march forward with genuine enthusiasm rather than pretense. The writing captures a band in full stride, moving with purpose and pride through a compact, driving arc that leaves performers and audiences alike feeling like something decisive just happened.
Who it's for
Young concert bands at the Grade 1.5 level who want an energetic opener or closer that acknowledges the contribution of every player, especially those in the low brass. Programs looking for short, high-impact works that fit smoothly into festivals or concert programming will find this valuable.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the low brass into a cohesive pulse early in rehearsals. Even though this isn't a low brass feature, their rhythmic clarity drives the entire ensemble's forward momentum.
- Balance the full band texture by checking that upper woodwinds sit comfortably behind the mid-range voices rather than sitting on top. This arrangement works best when the harmonic layers blend.
- Push for articulation consistency across all sections from the beginning. At this tempo and style, crisp attacks make the "heavy mettle" spirit feel genuinely resilient rather than sluggish.
How to use it
Open a concert with this to set an energetic tone immediately, or close a set with it to send the audience out on a wave of momentum. Pair it with slower or more introspective pieces to create program balance, or use it early in the school year once basic fundamentals are in place but before students tackle more demanding repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining clarity and unity in ensemble pulse across all sections
- Balancing harmonic layers within the concert band texture
- Articulation consistency and control at moderate to quick tempos
- Reading straightforward concert band instrumentation and ranges
- Contributing meaningfully to a group effort regardless of individual part prominence