High Desert March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

High Desert March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: High Desert March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49966
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Steve Hodges

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-49966

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High Desert March, by Steve Hodges, is a march that captures the excitement and occasional drama of a long hike in the high desert. Adventure awaits as the young hikers begin their trek, prepared to overcome any obstacles that may come their way. (2:10)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, High Desert March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Developing Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-5850-X

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5850-2

UPC: 038081576060

SKU: 00-49966

More about this title

About the Composer: Steve Hodges

Steve Hodges holds degrees from Western Oregon University (Bachelor of Science) and Central Washington University (Master of Music Education). He spent four decades in public school music education, directing bands, choirs, and small ensembles at all levels before retiring from full-time teaching.

Since 1986, Hodges has composed over 120 concert band works published by Alfred Music, along with choral arrangements issued by Staff Music and Shawnee Press. His music has been performed internationally at festivals and state conventions, with commissions from honor bands and schools across Virginia, Iowa, Winnipeg, British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina. His compositions have also appeared on TBS and ESPN programming. Hodges is an ASCAP member and resides in The Dalles, Oregon, where he remains active in community music and watches his grandchildren discover his compositions in their own school bands.

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Why we love this

Hodges brings four decades of band directing experience directly into his writing, which means this march understands what young ensembles can actually achieve. The Grade 1.5 difficulty sits right at that sweet spot where bands feel challenged but successful, and the narrative of desert adventure gives students something vivid to play toward rather than just playing through changes.

What to expect

The music captures the anticipation and resilience of hikers heading into open, rugged terrain. Moments of excitement and minor dramatic tension punctuate the overall forward motion, creating a journey the ensemble actually travels through rather than simply marking time.

Who it's for

Developing bands and grade school concert bands looking for repertoire that tells a story, sparks imagination, and sits comfortably at the Grade 1.5 level. Directors who want their students to connect with program content as well as technical execution will find this an engaging choice for concert or festival performance.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening with a steady, purposeful energy that reflects hikers setting out on their journey; avoid rushing, which undermines the sense of deliberate progress.
Balance the occasional dramatic moments against the overall adventure narrative so they feel like obstacles overcome, not disruptions to the main story.
Use the marked dynamics and articulations to help younger players understand how phrasing creates momentum across longer phrases rather than within individual measures.

How to use it

Program this as an opener to set an adventurous tone for a concert, or place it alongside other Grade 1.5 pieces to build a cohesive program around storytelling and scene painting. The modest two-minute-ten-second runtime makes it an efficient choice for festivals where time slots are tight.