Shark Attack!: F Horn

Unpredictable and playful. The title promises chaos, and the piece delivers with moments of thrilling dissonance balanced by more grounded sections. There's genuine humor in the controlled mayhem.

Beginning concert bands ready to explore harmony beyond unison and thirds. This works especially well for groups that need a confidence boost around modern compositional techniques without sacrificing accessibility.

• Establish a clear gesture for the attack sections beforehand. Students need to know exactly when to enter and sustain their chosen pitches without losing confidence in the moment.
• Have students select their attack notes during a sectional rehearsal rather than improvising in performance. This prevents panic and keeps the chaos musical.
• Let the dissonance breathe. Resist the urge to rush through these moments; the strangeness is the point.

Pair this early in a concert when energy and attention are highest. It works as an excellent conversation starter about 20th-century compositional choices and gives your audience permission to laugh at what they hear.

• Recognizing and performing dissonant sonorities with purpose
• Following conductor cues for synchronized ensemble attacks
• Understanding that musical choices can be unconventional and still valid
• Sustaining pitch under varied harmonic contexts