The Monster Under the Bed: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

The Monster Under the Bed: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Monster Under the Bed: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-23290
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Robert Sheldon

Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-23290

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$60.00

Shipped

One moment…

What child hasn't imagined frightening creatures lurking in their rooms at bedtime? This imaginative and delightful composition helps to put a more comical and friendly face on this monster, employing a jaunty melody, whole-tone harmonies, and the use of sound-tubes that produce an eerie and "monstrous" sound when whirled over the head. This is sure to be a hit with players and audience alike. The perfect novelty for any concert, and even more so if your concert is in late October! (2:15)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Monster Under the Bed: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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.

Series: Challenger Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 124

UPC: 038081259499

SKU: 00-23290

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently programmed composers writing for concert band today. His works appear on contest lists, concert programs, and festival schedules worldwide, and his commissions span decades. He co-authored Sound Innovations for Concert Band and has received recognition from the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP for his contributions to wind band literature.

Sheldon maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor for honor bands and appears regularly as a clinician at universities and state music education conferences. He has conducted his compositions in some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his sustained impact on music education and the wind band repertoire.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Sheldon understands the power of novelty in concert programming, and this piece delivers genuine entertainment without sacrificing musicianship. The whole-tone harmonies and sound-tube effects create teaching moments around extended techniques and unconventional instruments, while the jaunty melody keeps the ensemble engaged and makes rehearsal fun. It's the rare piece that works equally well for building ensemble cohesion and earning audience applause.

What to expect

Playful and slightly mischievous, with a melody that bounces along like the monster itself is dancing rather than lurking. The whole-tone harmonies create a slightly dreamy or unsettling backdrop that keeps things from becoming too precious, while the sound-tube effects inject genuine theatrical intrigue. By the end, what began as imagined scariness becomes endearing and fun.

Who it's for

Band directors seeking a crowd-pleasing novelty that doesn't demand advanced technical skills from the ensemble. This Grade 2 piece works well for middle school bands or developing high school groups that benefit from both an enjoyable repertoire experience and straightforward musical content. It's especially valuable for fall and Halloween concerts where programming humor and accessibility matter.

How to get the most out of it

Have your sound-tube players practice the technique separately before full ensemble rehearsals; the whirling motion needs consistent speed and hand position to achieve a uniform 'eerie' effect across the section.
Balance the piece so the melody emerges clearly even when the whole-tone harmonies thicken; this prevents the novelty elements from muddying the tunefulness that makes it charming rather than chaotic.
Establish steady tempo early and hold it confidently; the jaunty character depends on rhythmic precision, and ensemble confidence will translate directly to audience enjoyment.
Schedule a brief sound check with your sound-tube players to confirm they can produce the effect reliably in your performance space, as acoustics and hand control vary by venue.

How to use it

Place this after a traditional or serious work to shift the concert mood and give the audience a break; its 2:15 length and novelty factor make it an ideal anchor for a lighter section of your program. It pairs especially well with other accessible fall or Halloween programming and can serve as a finale that sends the audience out smiling. Consider programming it early enough in the season that you have rehearsal time to master the sound-tube technique without rushing.