The Wizard's Wand: Score
By Brian Bankston
Grade: 2
Item: 98-PR-RWS2529
$10.00
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Description
Challenge your students with this enchanting lyrical work, and your young musicians will create magic! It's a beautifully crafted, memorable piece set in the Lydian mode that suggests a sense of hope and otherworldliness. It has a few twists and turns with moments that range from gentle to bold and offers many teaching opportunities. Cast a spell on your audience with The Wizard's Wand.
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Developing Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PR-RWS2529
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Bankston
Brian Bankston is a composer and educator whose work for developing ensembles balances musical substance with accessibility. His pieces in the RWS series demonstrate a gift for creating compelling narratives through orchestration and modal writing that engage young musicians without overwhelming them.
Why we love this
Bankston writes with a director's ear for what Grade 2 bands can accomplish. The Lydian mode creates an instantly recognizable sound world that feels fresh without requiring extended techniques or extreme ranges, and the emotional arc (gentle to bold, with purposeful twists) gives students something substantial to shape rather than just play through.
What to expect
Stepping into an enchanted forest where light shifts between gentle wonder and bold magic. The Lydian mode gives the music an ethereal, slightly otherworldly quality; it feels hopeful and purposeful, with enough dramatic shape to hold attention across a complete performance.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands seeking a piece that teaches musicality and harmonic awareness without the technical demands of higher grades. Directors working toward festival performances or those looking to program something with genuine character and memorable themes will find their students engaged.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the Lydian character early in rehearsal by isolating the raised fourth degree; this tonal color should feel intentional, not accidental, when the band hears it.
- Shape the gentle passages with dynamic restraint and clear phrasing; younger players often play softly but without direction, so mark breath points and target notes that carry the melody forward.
- Prepare the bold moments by sectionalizing them first; balance is easy to lose when the band steps up in volume and intensity, so lock in part relationships before full ensemble run-throughs.
- Use the contest/festival context to motivate focused rehearsal; students respond to the specificity of a performance goal, and this piece rewards careful attention to detail across all sections.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a Grade 2 showcase concert or festival performance, where it can stand alongside lighter fare without feeling out of place. The lyrical, memorable quality also makes it an effective opener for a concert, establishing atmosphere and audience engagement from the start.
Skills your students will build
- Playing in the Lydian mode and recognizing raised-fourth scale degrees
- Shaping lyrical phrases with dynamic control and intentional phrasing
- Balancing volume and blend when transitioning from gentle to bold dynamics
- Reading and performing programmatic music that tells an emotional story