On a Tear: 2nd Mallet Percussion
By Todd Stalter
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PC-0019513_M2
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Packed with frenetic energy contrasted with a deeply moving lyrical section, On a Tear, by Todd Stalter, gives young musicians the opportunity to explore wide ranges of expression as all parts of the ensemble have featured areas and moments to shine. An ideal concert opener or closer, the work's title has a dual meaning, which deepens the musical connection between performers and audiences alike. (3:15)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, On a Tear: 2nd Mallet Percussion 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.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019513_M2
More about this title
About the Composer: Todd Stalter
Todd Stalter built his reputation over 34 years as Director of Bands at Eureka High School in Illinois, where he led ensembles to extraordinary achievement: the marching band won 16 Class 1A state championships, the concert band earned consistent Superior ratings at IHSA contests, and his groups performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Walt Disney World. He was inducted into the Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame and has guest conducted All-State Bands in Georgia and Delaware alongside numerous regional honor ensembles.
As a composer, Stalter's works for band and string orchestra have earned national recognition, appearing on state contest and festival lists across the country and in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series published by GIA. He remains active as an adjudicator, clinician, and presenter at major music education conferences. Stalter holds degrees from Illinois State University, where he studied trumpet performance and conducting with accomplished musicians and pedagogues.
Why we love this
Stalter trusts young musicians with real expressive range here. The piece opens with propulsive energy that immediately captures attention, then pivots to a genuinely moving lyrical section that demands genuine musicianship from every section. No part is decorative; even the younger or less experienced players in your band get moments that matter.
What to expect
A burst of kinetic urgency that suddenly opens into quiet vulnerability, then builds back toward cathartic release. The contrast feels earned rather than imposed, with both the frenetic sections and the reflective moments carrying genuine emotional weight.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands looking for programming that challenges musicianship across the full ensemble while remaining accessible to developing musicians. Directors seeking a piece with enough musical substance to engage audiences but built on technical and expressive demands that a young band can meet.
How to get the most out of it
- Clarify the dual meaning of the title with your musicians before rehearsal; knowing that 'on a tear' suggests both unbridled excitement and emotional depth will shape how they interpret the contrast between sections.
- Lock the opening rhythmic figures early and thoroughly in sectionals, as the frenetic passages rely on precise ensemble alignment to create impact without becoming chaotic.
- Shape the lyrical section with attention to long-line phrasing rather than bar-to-bar gestures; encourage players to think in phrases that breathe rather than sections that move mechanically.
- Use dynamics strategically in the transition back to energy. This moment is where the dual meaning crystallizes for listeners, so clarity in moving from introspection to excitement pays off considerably.
How to use it
Open your concert with this piece if you want immediate audience engagement and a clear statement about your ensemble's range. It also works powerfully as a closer, where the final surge of energy leaves people energized on their way out. At festival or contest, the piece's combination of technical precision and expressive maturity makes for a compelling opening statement.
Skills your students will build
- Contrasting articulation and style within a single work (energetic, crisp figures versus sustained, lyrical passages)
- Maintaining ensemble precision in syncopated and frenetic rhythmic material
- Shaping long melodic lines with intentional phrasing and dynamic control
- Balancing rhythmic independence with ensemble cohesion
- Expressive performance across a wide dynamic and emotional range