Stomping on Ants: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Jane Russell Bate
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0004821
$42.00
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Description
Stomping on Ants is approximately 93 seconds of bluesy, wiggly cuteness in which various sections of the band function as both the ants and the "stomper." Incorporating brass flutter tongue, two brief familiar musical quotes, and a surprise ending, the piece is perfect for any band looking to get its audiences giggling!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Stomping on Ants: 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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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
114
SKU:
00-PK-0004821
More about this title
About the Composer: Jane Russell Bate
Jane Russell Bate holds degrees from Smith College and Central Connecticut State University, with graduate training in Music Education. Her musical foundation spans classical composition study at the Hartt School of Music, jazz piano instruction at the Hartford Conservatory, and advanced arranging work at Eastman School of Music's summer workshops under Ray Wright and Manny Albam.
After a career teaching instrumental music in Connecticut's public schools and maintaining an active private piano studio, Bate has devoted herself fully to composition. Her performance background as a pianist, synthesizer player, and bassoonist in regional ensembles has deeply informed her understanding of how bands actually sound and what makes music work on stage.
Why we love this
Bate has written something genuinely funny without relying on complexity or pretense. The novelty elements (flutter tongue, musical quotes, a surprise twist) land naturally within a Grade 1.5 framework, meaning your students can execute them cleanly while the audience stays delighted. It's the kind of opener that energizes a concert and reminds everyone why live music matters.
What to expect
Imagine whimsy with a bluesy backbone. The piece bounces between playful, scurrying sections (the ants doing their thing) and moments of heavier presence, all of it tied together with a warm, approachable harmonic language that feels both contemporary and rooted in familiar territory.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the middle school level, beginning high school programs, or adult community bands seeking accessible, engaging repertoire. This is ideal for groups building foundational musicianship while wanting to program something that connects with family audiences and keeps rehearsals energized.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the flutter tongue articulation in the brass so it reads clearly to the audience; define the difference between the "ant" sections and the "stomper" moments through dynamic contrast and clarity rather than speed.
- Identify the two familiar musical quotes early in sectional rehearsals and let students discover them; their recognition will pay off in performance energy and audience response.
- Lean into the bluesy character with slight swing inflection where it feels natural, but keep rhythmic precision in the full-band hits to land the comedic timing of the ending.
How to use it
Open a family concert or school assembly with this; its 93 seconds pack enough personality to set a joyful tone without eating rehearsal time from longer works. Pair it with more substantial pieces to balance a program, or use it as the lead-in to a thematic set about nature or humor in music.
Skills your students will build
- Flutter tongue articulation in brass instruments
- Dynamic contrast and section independence (functioning as distinct ensemble voices within one ensemble)
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated, blues-inflected figures
- Listening for and responding to musical quotations within a new piece