Into the Wind: Score
By Mike Collins-Dowden
Grade: 1 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0006637
$7.00
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Description
Like a pilot taking off into a strong headwind, Into the Wind captures the spirit of bold determination required to persist in the face of an implacable obstacle. Sure to make the opening of any concert soar! (2:00) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Into the Wind: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
120
SKU:
00-PR-0006637
More about this title
About the Composer: Mike Collins-Dowden
Mike Collins-Dowden brings a rare combination of classroom experience and compositional ambition to his work. Since 2007, he has directed the band program at Pleasant Ridge School in Glenview, Illinois, where he teaches fourth and fifth graders. His degrees include a B.M. in music education and trombone performance from the Eastman School of Music (2003) and an M.M. in music education from Temple University (2007). While at Eastman, he performed with the Wind Ensemble's 2004 Japan tour.
Collins-Dowden has published more than 30 works with Alfred/Belwin, FJH, and Jalen Music, writing consistently for the young musicians in his own classroom. His output spans concert band and jazz band literature. Beyond the classroom, he performs on trombone and guitar and has explored music composition on unconventional platforms, including Nintendo Game Boy.
Why we love this
Collins-Dowden writes for his own students, and it shows. Into the Wind lands exactly where Grade 1 bands need it to: accessible enough to execute cleanly, energetic enough to captivate an audience, and musically coherent enough to feel like a real composition rather than an exercise. The metaphor of headwind translates instantly into sound, giving your ensemble a concrete dramatic anchor from downbeat to finish.
What to expect
Propulsive and purposeful from the opening note. The energy builds like an aircraft gathering speed down a runway, with wind resistance creating constant tension that the band must overcome through sheer determination. The result is exhilarating rather than anxious—a celebration of grit.
Who it's for
Grade 1 concert bands stepping into their first contest or festival season. Conductors seeking a piece that communicates a strong narrative without demanding technical virtuosity from developing musicians.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a steady, unwavering tempo in rehearsal. The "implacable obstacle" metaphor works only if the band commits to consistent forward momentum; wavering tempo will undermine the whole concept.
- Balance the ensemble so that principal voices cut through the harmonic foundation. Young musicians often play too loudly in supporting parts; remind them that clarity of line matters more than volume.
- Shape the overall arc across the full two minutes. Avoid playing through at performance intensity every rehearsal; save your best ensemble sound for dress rehearsal and concert.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic, confident tone from the start. Its two-minute duration and festival-ready polish also make it an ideal choice for early-season competition entries when your ensemble is still building stamina for longer works.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo under harmonic changes
- Balancing ensemble parts while supporting a primary melodic line
- Sustaining consistent tone quality across dynamic transitions
- Understanding programmatic music and how narrative shapes phrasing