Sunridge March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Hodges writes with a director's understanding of what makes a march actually work in performance. The piece balances accessibility at Grade 1.5 with genuine musical substance, featuring clean countermelodies that invite section participation rather than burying them in doublings. The modulation to B-flat doesn't just mark time; it energizes the final section in a way that feels earned, not arbitrary.

Sunridge March has the crisp, purposeful character of a traditional concert march without sounding dated. The energy is bright and forward-moving, with genuine moments of melodic interest that unfold rather than announce themselves. When it modulates upward, the piece suddenly feels wider and more celebratory.

This march serves beginning and early intermediate concert bands looking for a confident opening piece that respects both student musicianship and audience expectations. Directors will find clean orchestration that develops all sections and a runtime that fits naturally into festival or concert programming without overshadowing the rest of the program.

• Keep the tempo steady in the opening section; let the rhythmic precision of the march character establish itself before the band settles into the groove. A conductor who pulls back slightly after the initial entrance can draw players into the pulse rather than driving them forward.
• Balance the countermelodies in the woodwind and brass sections so they create a genuine conversation rather than competing for attention. Younger ensembles benefit from a section rehearsal where each countermelody is played alone, then layered in with the main theme.
• Approach the modulation from A-flat to B-flat as a lift in energy, not a mechanical key change. The percussion section anchors this moment; make sure the snare drum definition is sharp enough to propel the ensemble into the new key without a seam.

Program this as your opening number to establish focus and energy from the first moments of the concert. It works equally well as a festival selection where it demonstrates tight ensemble fundamentals and straightforward musicianship. The piece's momentum also serves as an effective bridge between opening remarks and the next selection.

• Reading and executing dotted rhythms and eighth-note figures with precision
• Balancing melody with countermelody in ensemble context
• Maintaining steady tempo through the march form
• Ensemble response to modulation and key changes
• Part independence within a homophonic texture