Stumptown Stomp: 2nd E-flat Alto Saxophone

Hodges writes accessible concert music that keeps young ensembles engaged without sacrificing musicality. The shared theme and woodwind "fiddle" writing here create natural moments for different sections to shine, which builds confidence and ownership across the full band.

Stumptown Stomp radiates straightforward fun. The melody bounces with infectious rhythm, and the woodwind "fiddle" writing creates a playful, folk-inspired character that invites the band to smile while they play. It's the kind of piece where good ensemble sound emerges naturally from rhythmic precision and shared joy.

Beginning and early intermediate concert bands (Grade 1.5 ensembles) looking for engaging repertoire that distributes musical responsibility across the ensemble. This piece works for groups preparing festival programs, school concerts, or building musicianship through collaborative scoring.

• Bring out the contrast between sections when the theme rotates. Mark in your score which instruments carry the melody at each entrance so players listen for their cue and understand the piece's architecture.
• Let the woodwinds lean into the fiddle character with bright articulation and a touch of swagger. This isn't strictly classical playing, and students often thrive when given permission to play with character.
• Establish a solid tempo before rehearsal starts and anchor it through a few full-section run-throughs. The toe-tapping rhythm will feel natural once the band locks in together.

Open a concert with this piece to establish an upbeat mood and signal to the audience that high school band can be entertaining. It pairs well with a contrasting lyrical work on the same program, giving students the full range of concert band color in one performance.

• Thematic awareness and listening for melody as it passes between sections
• Rhythmic precision and alignment across parts
• Stylistic contrast (folk character versus classical articulation)
• Section balancing and dynamic control
• Reading and responding to conductor cues during sectional entries