Solstice Celebration: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

Solstice Celebration: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Solstice Celebration: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49508
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mike Collins-Dowden

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-49508

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Solstice Celebration by composer Mike Collins-Dowden depicts the spirit of these celebrations through a joyous, energetic melody passed between all sections of the ensemble, and with a more somber, reflective interlude. (2:13) 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, Solstice Celebration: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Developing Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-4968-3

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4968-5

UPC: 038081570464

SKU: 00-49508

More about this title

About the Composer: Mike Collins-Dowden

Mike Collins-Dowden has been teaching band to fourth and fifth graders at Pleasant Ridge School in Glenview, Illinois, since 2007. He holds a B.M. in music education and trombone performance from the Eastman School of Music (2003), where he performed with the Eastman Wind Ensemble on their 2004 Japan tour, and an M.M. in music education from Temple University (2007).

As a prolific composer for young ensembles, Collins-Dowden writes directly from his classroom experience, with over 30 published works through Alfred/Belwin, FJH, and Jalen Music. Beyond composition and teaching, he performs on trombone and guitar, and has developed an unexpected passion for video game music creation on the Nintendo Game Boy.

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Why we love this

Collins-Dowden knows exactly what 1.5 grade bands need: a piece that sounds substantial without demanding technical wizardry. The interplay of joyous energy followed by genuine reflection gives your students real musical architecture to shape, and the melody passing between sections keeps every player engaged and invested in the sound.

What to expect

Solstice Celebration radiates warmth and community. The opening exudes festive brightness as the melody journeys through the ensemble, then pulls inward into a quieter, more thoughtful space that invites reflection before returning to the celebration with renewed energy.

Who it's for

Beginning and early intermediate concert bands, particularly those in grades 4-6 or bands forming their first festival program. The Grade 1.5 difficulty keeps technical demands minimal while still offering enough musical substance to hold an audience's attention.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the melody trading between sections during the opening; younger bands often want to play the same dynamic throughout, so work on the give-and-take as the piece rotates through different chairs.
The reflective interlude needs space to breathe. Resist the urge to rush it; younger musicians often respond well when you name the mood shift explicitly and give them a moment to reset emotionally before returning to the celebration.
Use the dynamic contrasts as rehearsal anchors. Mark the score together so everyone sees where the energy shifts, and drill those transitions as distinct moments rather than smooth blends.

How to use it

Open a concert with this piece to set an accessible, uplifting tone that welcomes newer audiences into the program. It also works perfectly as a festival selection where you need something that demonstrates musical maturity and ensemble balance without requiring advanced technique from every player.