The Thunderer: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arr. Mike Story
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0002171
$55.00
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Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| The Thunderer: Score | $10.00 | |
| The Thunderer: Flute | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: Oboe | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: 1st B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: B-flat Bass Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: B-flat Tenor Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: E-flat Baritone Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: 1st B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: 1st F Horn | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: 1st Trombone | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: Baritone T.C. | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: Tuba | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: Mallets | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: 1st Percussion | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: 2nd Percussion | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP 1st Horn in E-flat | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP 1st B-flat Trombone B.C. | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP 1st B-flat Trombone T.C. | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP B-flat Baritone B.C. | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP E-flat Tuba B.C. | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP E-flat Tuba T.C. | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP B-flat Tuba B.C. | $3.00 | |
| The Thunderer: WP B-flat Tuba T.C. | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Sousa's classic has been simplified for your beginning band. Careful attention to ranges and rhythms greatly assists with your teaching. Very approachable for beginners and highly performable. This is one you won't want to miss!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Thunderer: 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:
Belwin Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
176
SKU:
00-PK-0002171
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mike Story
Mike Story has established himself as a trusted arranger for beginning and intermediate bands, with a particular gift for making classic works accessible without sacrificing their essential character. His arrangements prioritize pedagogical clarity, carefully managing ranges and rhythmic complexity so that young musicians can focus on musical expression rather than technical struggle.
Why we love this
Story's arrangement captures everything that makes The Thunderer a concert band staple while genuinely serving Grade 1 ensembles. Young players get to experience Sousa's march energy and memorable melodies without fighting impossible ranges or rhythmic density, which means they'll actually enjoy performing it and audiences will hear a recognizable, polished result.
What to expect
The Thunderer marches forward with confidence and flash, filled with bright brass moments and propulsive rhythms that capture what made Sousa the March King. Even simplified, the piece maintains its celebratory energy and crowd-pleasing appeal.
Who it's for
First-year band students and beginning concert bands playing their first marches. Directors seeking grade-appropriate Sousa repertoire that sounds substantial and feels like a real performance piece will find this essential.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a clear, steady march tempo from the downbeat; young bands often rush marches, so a confident conductor beat will anchor the ensemble.
- Balance the melodic lines across sections so the main themes emerge clearly; beginners tend to play everything equally loud, but this march benefits from shaping around the important material.
- Pay attention to the articulation markings, especially any staccato passages, which give the march its crisp, military character.
- Use the recorded accompaniment (if available separately) during rehearsals to help students lock into the march's forward momentum.
How to use it
Open a concert with this march to set an upbeat, patriotic tone, or use it as an encore that sends audiences home smiling. It works equally well as the centerpiece of a spring concert or paired with other grade-appropriate classics to build a well-rounded program.
Skills your students will build
- Playing sustained notes with consistent tone and air support
- Marching rhythm and quarter-eighth note patterns
- Ensemble balance and listening across sections
- Following a conductor's beat in a structured musical form
- Performing with rhythmic precision and articulation control