Huckleberry Hedgehog: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$45.00 USD

Huckleberry Hedgehog: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Huckleberry Hedgehog: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-37802
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Scott Watson

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-37802

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$45.00

Shipped

One moment…

"Huckleberry Hedgehog" portrays the happy, but somewhat quirky, exploits of a spiny little mammal, offering beginning band students the chance to play fun, expressive music by combining a limited number of pitches typically presented in the first year of instruction with a variety of interesting articulation and dynamic markings. Everyone, including low brass and low woodwinds (always well-doubled), gets the opportunity to play important thematic material in special moments throughout the piece.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Huckleberry Hedgehog: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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.

No sample videos found.

Series: Alfred Debut Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 118

UPC: 038081434254

SKU: 00-37802

More about this title

About the Composer: Scott Watson

Scott Watson has spent four decades in music education, first as a band director and instrumental coordinator in the Parkland School District near Allentown, Pennsylvania, and later as Associate Professor of Music at Cairn University. His compositional output reflects dual immersion in both contemporary classical music and the traditions of the concert band world, resulting in over 120 published works across band, orchestra, and chamber settings that have reached audiences worldwide, including performances at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, the Midwest Clinic, and the White House.

Beyond composition, Watson is a sought-after clinician and guest conductor for festival bands. He serves as exclusive composer for Alfred Publications and has authored the influential text "Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity" (Oxford University Press, 2011), bringing his deep understanding of pedagogy and creativity to music educators at every level.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Beginning band students rarely encounter novelty pieces this carefully crafted. Watson builds in genuine musical interest through varied articulations and dynamic shaping without introducing new technical demands; the result is a piece that feels sophisticated to play, not simplified. Low brass and low woodwinds get real thematic moments instead of filler parts, building the confidence of every section.

What to expect

Playful and slightly off-kilter, like watching a small creature navigate the world with charming determination. The music bounces with personality while staying accessible; it captures whimsy without resorting to cuteness.

Who it's for

Grade 1 concert band students in their first year of playing. This piece works for groups that have established basic tone production and can handle simple articulation patterns but haven't yet tackled chromatic scales or complex rhythmic figures.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the articulations deliberately. The contrast between tongued and slurred passages gives the piece its character; don't let them blur together in performance.
Balance the dynamics across parts so accents land crisply but dynamics still sound corporate. Early bands often play either all soft or all loud.
Watch your low brass and low woodwind entrances closely. These students will feel ownership of their parts when they realize they're playing the melody, not just supporting it.

How to use it

Program this early in the year (October or November) as a confidence builder after students have solidified their first-position fundamentals. It also works perfectly as an opening piece for a winter or spring concert where you want the audience smiling immediately, or as a bridge between your educational concert selections and more serious repertoire.

Skills your students will build

Articulation control (tongued and slurred passages within the same phrase)
Dynamic shaping (using crescendos and decrescendos expressively rather than mechanically)
Part independence (maintaining thematic material while listening to other sections)
Low brass and low woodwind voice leading (following melody lines in non-traditional registers)