Highbridge Excursions: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Mark Williams
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PK-0000135
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Description
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Additional Details
Series:
Growing Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
268
SKU:
00-PK-0000135
More about this title
About the Composer: Mark Williams
Mark Williams composed over 200 works for school bands, orchestras, and choirs, establishing himself as a central figure in American band music education. His credentials included co-authorship of the Accent on Achievement Band Method, a foundational resource used by countless directors. Williams held degrees from Eastern Washington University and spent his career in Washington state schools, where he focused on elementary band pedagogy while maintaining an active performance life on bassoon.
Beyond the classroom, Williams traveled extensively as clinician and guest conductor across 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia. He earned significant recognition including the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. As conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band and as a woodwind performer with the 560th Air Force Band, Williams grounded his compositional voice in practical ensemble experience.
Why we love this
Williams writes with a clear-eyed understanding of what middle school musicians can accomplish. This grade 3 concert band piece sits in the sweet spot where students encounter genuine musical ideas and manageable technical challenges, making it ideal for building confidence without oversimplifying the score.
What to expect
Highbridge Excursions carries the spirited character of its title, balancing accessible melodic writing with moments of sophistication. The piece unfolds with the energy and discovery of an actual journey, inviting the ensemble into storytelling rather than simply executing notes on a page.
Who it's for
Concert bands in the middle school range, including advancing middle school groups and younger high school ensembles working toward festival or contest performance. Directors seeking grade 3 literature that respects student musicianship while offering genuine artistic challenge will find this score both practical and rewarding.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the ensemble carefully in tutti sections; Williams often distributes melody across multiple voices, so ensure no single section overwhelms the texture.
- The rhythmic drive depends on consistent subdivision in your sections. Lock in quarter-note pulse before adding the flowing passages.
- Mark tempo changes clearly in rehearsal. Note exactly where the piece shifts character so students anticipate transitions rather than react to them.
How to use it
This works well as a contest or festival selection where you want students to experience the full arc of preparing and performing a substantial piece. It also serves effectively as a concert anchor that demonstrates growth, programmed alongside lighter fare or as the centerpiece of a spring performance.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing independent melodic lines within full ensemble texture
- Executing clean ensemble rhythms at moderate tempo
- Responding to sectional cues and tempo changes
- Sustaining consistent intonation across longer musical phrases
- Reading and performing in ranges appropriate to middle school instrumentation