March for Freedom: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Steve Hodges
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PK-0001293
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Description
This bright, upbeat march is sure to be a real hit. The composer, Steve Hodges, is a successful high school band director in Oregon. (Grade 3)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, March for Freedom: 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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Additional Details
Series:
Growing Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
124
SKU:
00-PK-0001293
More about this title
About the Composer: Steve Hodges
Steve Hodges holds degrees from Western Oregon University (B.S.) and Central Washington University (M.A. in Music Education). After four decades directing bands, choirs, and small ensembles across Oregon and Washington public schools, he turned his classroom experience into a prolific composing career that spans over 120 published concert band works since 1986.
Hodges's compositions have traveled internationally and appeared at state conventions and festivals throughout North America. His work has been commissioned by honor bands and schools from Virginia to British Columbia, and his music has been featured on ESPN and TBS broadcasts. A member of ASCAP, he now resides in The Dalles, Oregon, where he continues to engage with community music and watches his grandchildren perform his pieces in their own school bands.
Why we love this
A Grade 3 march that actually sounds fresh and programmatic rather than generic filler. Hodges writes with a director's intuition about what bands at this level can execute confidently while still sounding polished. The piece balances straightforward conducting with rewarding moments for each section.
What to expect
Bright, energetic, and purposeful. The march pulses with optimism and forward motion; players feel the confidence that comes from executing clean rhythms and clear harmonic progressions together. There's nothing apologetic about this piece's patriotic character.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands preparing for summer festivals, Fourth of July celebrations, or patriotic concert programs. Directors looking for repertoire that works equally well as a contest piece or standalone concert opener will find this engaging for players while remaining straightforward to prepare.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo steady in the march sections; the bright character depends on rhythmic precision from the ensemble, not rushing the beat.
- Balance the melodic voices in the band so the main themes sing clearly over the supporting harmonies.
- Use the key moments where different sections trade material to build clarity and section independence during rehearsal.
- Pay attention to the dynamic arc across the full piece; subtle crescendos and diminuendos make the march feel intentional rather than static.
How to use it
This works wonderfully as a summer festival warm-up or the opening number on a Fourth of July concert. Its Grade 3 difficulty and upbeat character make it an ideal choice for building program momentum before moving into more substantial works. Consider pairing it with a lyrical piece to showcase the band's full range.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo in march meter (2/4)
- Balancing melody and accompaniment within sections
- Dynamic control and gradual intensity building
- Clean articulation and rhythmic precision in moderate to fast passages
- Reading and executing straightforward concert band instrumentation