Reflections on a New Tomorrow: 2nd Trombone
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 2.5 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0015787_TN2
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Written for the first graduating class at Plainfield East High School in 2011, "Reflections on a New Tomorrow" provides moments of reverie as the students reflect on their high school experiences and then look ahead with excitement and optimism on all that their futures hold. (4:30) 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, Reflections on a New Tomorrow: 2nd Trombone 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
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
260
SKU:
00-PC-0015787_TN2
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon's compositions appear on festival and contest schedules worldwide, and his work has been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. He has guest conducted All-State and Regional Honor Bands across the United States and internationally in Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. Sheldon is the lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band and has received honors from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
As both a composer and clinician, Sheldon regularly delivers presentations at universities and state music education conferences while accepting commissions for new works. His commitment to wind band music has shaped the repertoire for thousands of ensembles. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to music education.
Why we love this
This piece captures a genuine moment in a school's history while remaining universally relatable to any ensemble or audience reflecting on growth and possibility. Sheldon's writing at this level achieves emotional depth without technical excess, allowing directors to focus on phrasing, balance, and expressive control rather than wrestling with notes. The four-and-a-half minute arc makes it ideal for concert programming, contest consideration, or a meaningful closer to a graduation or year-end concert.
What to expect
The piece unfolds as a journey inward and then outward, beginning with quiet reflection and gradually building toward affirmation and hope. Sheldon's orchestration balances intimate, introspective moments with fuller harmonic textures that feel celebratory without becoming bombastic.
Who it's for
This work suits concert bands at the Grade 2.5 level who can handle expressive, through-composed writing without struggling with technical demands. It works equally well for ensembles approaching their first major concert, a graduation ceremony, or a festival where emotional resonance matters as much as virtuosity.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the sectional entrances to highlight the emotional progression from retrospection to forward-looking optimism; resist the urge to rush as new material enters.
- Attend to intonation in sustained passages, where the harmonic movement becomes the centerpiece of the texture.
- Balance the melodic content between upper and lower voices so that the accompaniment never overshadows the story being told.
- Use the recorded accompaniment available through MakeMusic Cloud to rehearse challenging rhythmic or ensemble passages independently.
How to use it
Program this as a closing or near-closing work on a concert where it can land with full emotional weight, or feature it as a festival entry where its accessibility and genuine character will resonate with both adjudicators and audiences. It also serves beautifully at graduation ceremonies, senior recognition events, or any program marking transition and growth.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long phrases with consistent tone and intonation
- Balancing melody and accompaniment across varied orchestrations
- Responding to expressive conducting and emotional arc
- Reading lyrical, through-composed structures
- Blending sustained harmonies with clarity and precision