Storm Surge: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Storm Surge succeeds because it treats dynamic control as a narrative element, not an exercise. The wind chimes don't just mark dynamic shifts; they're the sound of nature itself, which keeps student musicians engaged in the musical storytelling rather than mechanics. For Grade 1.5 ensembles, this is the rare piece that challenges musicianship without overwhelming developing musicians.

Storm Surge captures the gathering intensity and unpredictability of weather on the move. Wind chimes shimmer through changing dynamics as the band swells and recedes, creating the sensation of a natural phenomenon unfolding in real time rather than a piece simply moving through its structure.

This piece works for Grade 1.5 concert bands seeking a short work that engages students while building foundational conducting responsiveness and dynamic control. Directors programming festival or contest events will find Storm Surge musically substantive enough for adjudicated settings while remaining accessible to less experienced ensembles.

• Shape the crescendos deliberately from the ensemble entrance, letting dynamics emerge from individual section clarity rather than trying to swell from silence. Student bands often rush when building energy; steady tempo through dynamic change keeps the illusion of power intact.
• Assign the wind chimes part to a musician who can respond to your conducting with precision. The chimes should feel like a natural punctuation to the band's dynamic movement, not an independent event.
• Mark exact dynamic target levels (e.g., 'reach exactly mf by measure 12') so students understand the slope of each phrase and avoid the common pitfall of jumping dynamics rather than transitioning through them.
• Record a sectional rehearsal and play it back so students hear how their collective dynamic work sounds. Young musicians often underestimate their own sound and benefit from hearing the cumulative effect of careful crescendo work.

Program Storm Surge as an opener on a concert to energize an audience early and set a dynamic tone for the program that follows. In a festival or contest setting, it provides a solid showcase of ensemble control without requiring the rehearsal time that longer, more complex works demand.

• Reading and executing long crescendos and diminuendos
• Responding to conductor cues for dynamic change
• Maintaining steady tempo through dynamic transitions
• Ensemble balance at varying dynamic levels
• Listening for and adjusting to chimes cues in real time