See Rock City: 2nd B-flat Clarinet
By Brant Karrick
Grade: 4.5 (Medium Difficult)
Item: 00-PC-0015143_C2
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Description
See Rock City is a fun, rock jam session for concert band! Fusing elements of rock, jazz, and funk styles, all sections of the band equally contribute familiar riffs, grooves, and melodies weaved throughout the three-part form---fast-funk-fun! Partly inspired by driving through the southeastern part of the United States, particularly Tennessee, it is hard to miss the words painted on barns, birdhouses, and billboards---See Rock City! The attraction atop Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga displays the region's quirky sense of humor as well as its breathtaking beauty. Whether looking at seven states, standing under a waterfall, or walking through a cavern full of glowing gnomes, Rock City, like this namesake piece, is just pure, simple, fun.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, See Rock City: 2nd B-flat Clarinet 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 Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
308
SKU:
00-PC-0015143_C2
More about this title
About the Composer: Brant Karrick
Brant Karrick has shaped band music through both composition and education. Since 2003, he has directed the band program at Northern Kentucky University, where he teaches conducting, orchestration, and instrumental methods alongside his administrative duties. His teaching career spans nearly three decades, including nine years at the University of Toledo and seven years in Kentucky public schools. He earned his doctorate in music education from Louisiana State University in 1994 and holds degrees from the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.
Karrick's compositions have traveled globally, performed across the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa, South America, Japan, and Australia. He remains active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator while maintaining his work at NKU. His studies with David Livingston, Steve Beck, and Cecil Karrick shaped his compositional voice, and his involvement with ASCAP, NAFME, and the College Band Directors National Association reflects his ongoing commitment to the profession.
Why we love this
Karrick writes with genuine understanding of what makes a concert band rehearsal feel alive. Every section gets its moment to shine with memorable rock and funk grooves that keep students engaged across a full performance, and the three-part architecture gives you natural spots to build energy and release tension. The piece lands solidly at Grade 4.5, challenging enough to demand focused musicianship but approachable enough that students feel the success immediately.
What to expect
Driving down a highway through the American South with the windows down and the radio turned up. The music captures that quirky, unpretentious joy of roadside attractions and regional character; it's unapologetically fun without sacrificing musicianship or compositional craft. Grooves settle into your bones, melodies stick with you, and the whole thing swings with the ease of friends jamming together.
Who it's for
This piece belongs in any concert band program looking to build energy in a concert or festival setting. Bands at the Grade 4 to 5 level will find it accessible yet satisfying, and the rock-funk-jazz fusion appeals equally to students and audiences tired of conventional band repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section (bass, drums, and low reeds) into a tight pocket first. Once that groove is solid, the ensemble can relax into the rock feel rather than fighting it.
- Emphasize the contrast between sections by adjusting dynamics and articulation. Fast funk passages demand crisp tonguing; the groovier moments need space and breath.
- Keep the tempo steady and let the written riffs speak for themselves. Karrick's orchestration does the heavy lifting; your job is clarity and precision, not embellishment.
- Shape the familiar melodies so they sing above the rhythm. Even in a rock idiom, phrase structure matters and keeps the listener invested through all three parts.
How to use it
Program this as a closer on a spring concert to leave audiences smiling and energized. It pairs well alongside more traditional concert band fare, offering a stylistic palette cleanser that reminds students (and listeners) why they fell in love with playing in the first place. The accessibility at Grade 4.5 also makes it ideal for festival competition when you want to showcase musicianship and ensemble unity rather than technical fireworks.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining a steady groove while playing independent lines
- Reading and executing rock and funk articulation styles
- Balancing rhythmic precision with the relaxed feel of a jam session
- Playing riffs and countermelodies that sit within ensemble texture
- Understanding three-part song form and sectional transitions