Monsters, Unite!: Baritone T.C.
By Kelly Dugger
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0018671_BTC1
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Description
Monsters, Unite! by Kelly Dugger is a fun beginning band piece that will surely be a hit at Halloween time and all year round. Monsters all around the world are waking up to a calling to unite. Some are big, hairy creatures, and others are delicate and fairy-like. They walk and fly long distances to find each other. In the end, they all come together, marching as one. Just when you think they've marched off into the distance, they come together to surprise the audience. Unique percussion effects---timpani glissando and theremin (or flexatone)---add to the spooky sound. A tuba solo at the end is followed by a surprising scream that will leave the performers and the audience giggling! (1:35) 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, Monsters, Unite!: Baritone T.C. 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:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
76
SKU:
00-PC-0018671_BTC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Kelly Dugger
Kelly Dugger has built a reputation for understanding what beginning band students need: music that engages their ears, challenges their developing technique, and gives them genuine reasons to practice. Her work in the Alfred Debut Series demonstrates a gift for writing accessible arrangements that don't sacrifice musicality or humor.
Dugger's compositions balance pedagogical clarity with real compositional craft. She writes for young ensembles with respect for their ability to tell a story, whether through straightforward melodies or creative use of special effects.
Why we love this
Dugger understands what beginning bands need: a narrative that captures student imagination while staying within realistic technical boundaries. The combination of storytelling and accessible writing makes this piece one that students actually want to rehearse, and the percussion surprises (timpani glissando, theremin or flexatone, plus that final scream) give every section a moment to shine without overwhelming the ensemble.
What to expect
Playful and slightly mischievous, with just enough spooky texture to feel seasonal without becoming cartoonish. The piece moves through deliberate pacing—waking, wandering, gathering, marching—so it has theatrical momentum. When the monsters suddenly reappear for that final moment, the surprise is earned.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands ready to tackle a piece with real personality and humor. This works beautifully for ensembles in Grades 4-6 or first-year high school programs that want to build confidence while having genuine fun. Directors looking for Halloween programming that extends beyond spooky atmosphere to actual storytelling will find a reliable choice here.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the timpani glissando so it reads as an eerie transition rather than drowning out the melodic material. Rehearse this effect separately to establish consistent pitch and timing.
- If you're using flexatone instead of theremin, have your percussionist practice the scraping technique well in advance. The sound should feel unsettling and atmospheric, not accidental.
- The tuba solo near the end deserves spotlight rehearsals. Even though it's brief, it's the dramatic payoff before the final surprise, so encourage your tuba player to commit fully to the character.
- The final scream is comedic gold, but it only lands if the ensemble has nailed the preceding march. Lock the rhythm section first, then layer in the melodic clarity.
How to use it
Schedule this for October concerts where you want an audience-friendly palate cleanser or a closer that sends people out smiling. It also works as a spring concert opener if you're building a program around novelty or character pieces. The 1:35 length makes it an ideal companion to longer, more serious selections.
Skills your students will build
- Playing sustained tones with consistent intonation
- Executing rhythmic coordination across the full ensemble
- Responding to special percussion effects (timpani glissando, theremin/flexatone) as ensemble cues
- Balancing melody and accompaniment roles within a narrative context
- Maintaining steady tempo through sectional transitions and surprising dynamics