Over The Hills: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Walking down a country lane on a clear morning, unhurried and cheerful. The melody has a gentle optimism that captures childhood wonder without sentimentality, and the march rhythm grounds the piece in a simple, satisfying groove that young musicians can sink into immediately.

Beginning concert bands in their first or second year, particularly directors staging an inaugural concert or early-season performance. This piece works equally well for all-ability groups where reading levels vary significantly, since the straightforward notation and limited ranges keep every player engaged without frustration.

• Keep the tempo steady and conversational. This is a walk, not a rush. A metronome marking around quarter note = 120 works well and gives young players time to breathe and listen to each other.
• Balance the melody between sections rather than letting one instrument dominate. A beginning band often gravities toward the trumpet line; bring out counter-melodies in the lower voices to create musical texture.
• Shape the phrasing in four-bar units. Even with simple material, directing the band to crescendo slightly into bar 4 of each phrase gives the march forward momentum and prevents it from sounding static.

Open a concert with this piece to build confidence and set a warm, accessible tone. It pairs beautifully with slightly more challenging works later in the program, giving your audience an immediate sense that your band is ready to share music, and giving your students a success before they tackle their heavier repertoire.

• Reading whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes in simple meters
• Maintaining steady tempo as an ensemble
• Balancing dynamics across instrumental sections
• Listening for blend in a multi-part texture
• Understanding march form and phrasing in four-bar units