Rivanna River March: Score
By Steve Hodges
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0004220
$7.00
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Description
The flowing Rivanna River and the beautiful Southwest Mountains of central Virginia are depicted in this spirited march. Commissioned by the Albemarle County Public Schools for the Middle School Honor Band, this march features buoyant melodies, a solid bass line, and a stately trio section that leads to an exciting finish. (2:40)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Rivanna River March: Score 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:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
134
SKU:
00-PR-0004220
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 ensembles across public school levels, he retired to focus on composition and arranging.
Since 1986, Hodges has published more than 120 concert band works through Alfred Music, along with choral arrangements through Staff Music and Shawnee Press. His compositions have been performed internationally at festivals and state conventions, and he has received commissions from honor bands and schools in Virginia, Iowa, British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina. His music has also been featured by TBS and ESPN. Hodges is an ASCAP member and currently resides in The Dalles, Oregon, where he remains active in community music alongside his family of five children and ten grandchildren.
Why we love this
Hodges brings four decades of band directing experience directly into his writing, and it shows in every phrase. The march walks that line between accessible and musically interesting that Grade 2 bands desperately need, with genuine melodic appeal rather than filler. Programming a commission that works this cleanly at the middle school level removes a major planning headache.
What to expect
Buoyant and approachable, with the gentle forward motion of a river's flow. The trio offers contrast through its stately dignity, building toward a satisfying finish that leaves the band feeling accomplished and the audience engaged.
Who it's for
Middle school and early high school concert bands seeking a march with genuine character and accessible ranges. This work fits honor bands, regular concert programs, and festivals where a spirited, well-crafted march elevates the program without demanding virtuosity.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the buoyant melodies with clear phrase breathing; avoid letting the flowing material collapse into mechanical eighth-note patterns.
- Balance the solid bass line so it anchors the harmony without overshadowing the top voice; this is where the march's foundation lives.
- Prepare the trio section with stately articulation and consistent dynamics to signal the shift in character before the exciting final push.
How to use it
Open a concert with this march to establish energy and confidence, or use it as a bridge between a slower opening work and heavier repertoire. Its two-minute-forty-second runtime makes it ideal for festival rotations, honor band showcases, or regional competitions where a polished march signals the ensemble's musicianship.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining buoyant phrasing at a steady tempo without accelerating
- Balancing melody and bass line while maintaining rhythmic cohesion
- Shifting articulation and dynamic character between march and trio sections
- Reading concert band voicings and doubling strategies across instruments