Into the Clouds!: Flex Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Richard L. Saucedo
Grade: 2-3
Item: 35-PK00343059
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About the Composer: Richard L. Saucedo

Richard L. Saucedo shaped the Indiana high school band world over three decades as Director of Bands at Carmel High School, where his ensembles earned consistent recognition at state, regional, and national competitions. His Wind Symphony I performed at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival multiple times and claimed the Indiana State Champion title, while the Carmel Marching Greyhounds secured two national BOA championships and maintained top ten placements for 17 consecutive years.
Beyond the high school podium, Saucedo's work as a freelance composer and arranger spans marching bands, concert bands, choral works, and orchestras. He has contributed five DCI world championship arrangements to the Cavaliers and currently serves as music ensemble coordinator for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. His contributions to music education earned him Indiana's "Bandmaster of the Year" honor, induction into both the Music for All and Drum Corps International halls of fame, and membership in the American Bandmasters Association.
Why we love this
Saucedo wrote this work specifically for young ensembles competing at the contest level, so the piece understands exactly what Grade 2-3 groups can execute convincingly. The flexible instrumentation means you're not locked into a specific woodwind or brass balance; instead, you can write for what actually shows up in your room and still deliver a polished, energetic opener that impresses an audience.
What to expect
The piece propels forward with relentless momentum, building through well-placed percussion accents and dynamic surges that suggest ascending flight. Moments of dramatic intensity punctuate the journey, creating the sense of a young ensemble that's learned to handle theatrical gestures alongside technical demands.
Who it's for
Grade 2-3 flex ensembles looking for an opening number that combines approachability with genuine musical weight. This works equally well for schools with mixed instrumentation or limited instrumentation, provided the scoring is matched to your group's strengths.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the pulse early in rehearsals as the structural anchor. Once your ensemble locks into the driving rhythm, the dramatic peaks land with much greater impact.
- Balance the powerful percussion writing so it propels rather than overwhelms. Young players often gravitate toward dynamic extremes, so guide them toward precision and control in the rhythmic foundation.
- Mark the dramatic impact points in your score and create a rehearsal plan that isolates these moments. Getting comfortable with sudden shifts in texture prevents the piece from feeling disjointed.
How to use it
Open a concert or festival performance with this number to set an energetic tone and immediately engage the audience. At two minutes, it leaves time for longer works elsewhere on the program while delivering a complete musical statement that stands on its own.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining consistent pulse through repetitive rhythmic figures
- Responding to sudden dynamic and textural shifts
- Precision in percussion parts that drive harmonic progression
- Balancing individual line clarity with ensemble cohesion
- Executing dramatic accent patterns with control