The Wobbly Unicycle: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

The Wobbly Unicycle: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Wobbly Unicycle: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1541
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Timothy Loest

Grade: 2

Item: 98-B1541

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Experience musical vertigo like you’ve never experienced before! This whimsical work depicts the humorous movement of an inexperienced unicyclist, whose comical ride is captured through the clever use of chromaticism, dissonance, and whole tone passages. Steeped in pure fun, this imaginative and entertaining piece is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. Hold onto your seats - it’s going to be one wild ride!

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Series: FJH Concert Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398231133

SKU: 98-B1541

More about this title

About the Composer: Timothy Loest

Timothy Loest has spent over thirty years in the classroom while building an international reputation for works that balance accessibility with genuine musical substance. His compositions for young band are performed worldwide, and his influence extends through pedagogical collaborations on bestselling method series including Measures of Success and Warm-ups and Beyond. In 2017, his large ensemble work Cloud Gate drew over 5,000 listeners at Chicago's Millennium Park, and that same year he received the Illinois Grade School Music Association's Cloyd Myers Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Education.

Loest founded Fanfare Music Press in 2022 to expand his publishing reach and maintain rigorous standards for band repertoire. His music has appeared on network television including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America. He holds degrees from Illinois State University and Northwestern University, maintains ASCAP membership, and continues to accept commissions for band through his website.

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Why we love this

Loest crafts novelty pieces with genuine musicianship, and The Wobbly Unicycle proves he can build a complete musical argument around a single witty concept. The chromaticism and whole tone writing create real compositional challenges without overwhelming a Grade 2 ensemble, and conductors appreciate having a repertoire selection that genuinely entertains while requiring focused rehearsal.

What to expect

Imagine watching someone learn to ride a unicycle in real time: moments of lurching imbalance, unexpected recoveries, and the sheer absurdity of the whole enterprise. The music tilts with chromatic runs and lurches through dissonance, pulling the listener into the wobbly journey without ever letting go of the groove.

Who it's for

Grade 2 concert bands seeking a crowd-pleasing opener or closer that doesn't sacrifice musical integrity. Directors who want their students to experience non-traditional harmonic language through a piece that makes the compositional choices audible and fun.

How to get the most out of it

Conduct the harmonic instability with clarity; the whole tone and chromatic passages need steady beats so students hear the intentional weirdness rather than feeling lost
Balance humor with precision; exaggerated dynamics and articulation will land the comedy, but sloppy execution undercuts the effect
Let section leaders identify when the unicyclist "wobbles" most dramatically so they can shape those moments with cohesion across parts
Use the accompaniment recording to establish tempo and harmonic context during early rehearsals, especially for students unfamiliar with whole tone sounds

How to use it

Program this as a concert opener to set a playful tone, or pair it with more serious repertoire as a palate cleanser that reminds audiences why they love band concerts. It works equally well as a full ensemble feature or as a special moment in a longer concert that demonstrates your band's range and personality.