Speed Trap: Baritone T.C.
Speed Trap: Baritone T.C. Sheet Music Preview

Speed Trap: Baritone T.C.

By Steve Hodges

Grade: 1.5 (Easy)

Item: 00-PC-0015327_BTC1
Digital Download
$3.00
View Full Set
Description
Imagine yourself cruising on the expressway in your favorite car with time to burn. This exciting rock piece represents a need for speed and also a need to stay alert! Featuring a solid bass line and infectious motives, this is sure to be a hit with the band as well as the audience. (2:10)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Speed Trap: Baritone T.C. 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
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Challenger Band Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 182
SKU: 00-PC-0015327_BTC1

More about this title

About the Composer: Steve Hodges

Steve Hodges

Steve Hodges holds degrees from Western Oregon University (Bachelor of Science) and Central Washington University (Master of Music Education). His four-decade career in public school music education shaped a prolific compositional output: since 1986, he has published over 120 concert band pieces through Alfred Music, along with choral arrangements via Staff Music and Shawnee Press.

Hodges' work has traveled far beyond his Oregon home, programmed at festivals and state conventions across multiple countries. His compositions have earned commissions from honor bands and schools in Virginia, Iowa, Winnipeg, British Columbia, and the Carolinas, and his music has aired on TBS and ESPN. An ASCAP member with numerous accolades, Hodges now watches his own grandchildren perform his pieces in their school bands.

Why we love this

Hodges writes rock material that actually engages young bands instead of talking down to them. The solid bass line and memorable motives give players something to grip onto, while the infectious energy makes this a genuine crowd-pleaser at concerts. At Grade 1.5, it's accessible without feeling simplistic.

What to expect

Speed Trap captures the exhilaration and alertness of highway driving, with a propulsive rock groove that pulls listeners into the moment. The infectious motives and steady forward motion create a sense of vitality and purpose, balanced by the compositional clarity that keeps young players grounded.

Who it's for

Young concert bands at the Grade 1.5 level will find this piece manageable yet rewarding. It's equally suited to middle school groups building confidence and high school bands looking for reliable, energetic repertoire that lands with audiences.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the rhythm section first. The bass line is the heartbeat of this piece; once drums and low brass find their pocket together, everything else falls into place.
  • Articulate the motives crisply across all sections. Hodges builds momentum through repetition and call-and-response figures, so clarity in tonguing and attacks keeps the energy propulsive.
  • Balance the soloistic moments against the full ensemble. The piece has moments that spotlight smaller groupings; make sure those shine without getting swallowed by the tutti sections.
  • Maintain steady tempo throughout. The rock idiom works best when the pulse feels inevitable rather than hurried. A metronome in rehearsal pays dividends here.

How to use it

Program this as an opening concert piece to establish energy and set a high-engagement tone immediately. It pairs well with a contrasting ballad or classical selection later in the program, giving the concert shape and variety.

Skills your students will build

  • Rhythmic precision in rock idioms and syncopated figures
  • Ensemble balance between bass line, harmonic support, and melodic interest
  • Articulation and attack clarity across all sections
  • Sustained tempo control in a driving groove

You May Also Like