Wade in the Water: Flute
Wade in the Water: Flute Sheet Music Preview

Wade in the Water: Flute

Traditional / arr. Michael Story

Grade: 2 (Easy)

Item: 00-PC-0015402_F1
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Description
A gospel-rock style setting of this cherished African-American spiritual opens with a lyrical trumpet solo and rapidly shifts to a fluid rock-style development of the melody. Building throughout while ending with a reverent musical moment, you'll have your audience on their feet! (2:45) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Wade in the Water: Flute 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 Young Band
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 196
SKU: 00-PC-0015402_F1

More about this title

About the Arranger: Michael Story

Michael Story is a prolific arranger and composer whose work appears regularly in school band and orchestra programs across North America. His arrangements for young ensembles demonstrate a gift for preserving the character and emotional core of source material while making it accessible to developing musicians.

Why we love this

Story captures the spiritual's lyrical soul in that opening trumpet solo, then pivots seamlessly into contemporary rock language without losing reverence. Grade 2 ensembles rarely get this kind of stylistic range and musical maturity in a single piece, and the built-in arc (quiet opening, building energy, reverent close) gives your band genuine programming weight without requiring advanced technical facility.

What to expect

The piece opens with intimacy and introspection, the trumpet's lyrical call drawing listeners inward. Energy accelerates through a contemporary rock groove that feels fresh and alive, then settles into a moment of profound quiet reflection before the final statement.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 2 level looking for repertoire that engages audiences and allows musicians to explore stylistic contrasts. This works equally well for groups seeking concert program variety and those preparing for festival performance.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the opening trumpet solo so it sings through the ensemble; this is your emotional entry point, not a solo act
  • Find the pocket in the rock-style section by locking the rhythm section with precision; the fluidity Story writes depends on confidence in the beat
  • Shape the dynamic build as a cumulative process across all sections rather than sudden surges; let the growth feel inevitable
  • Honor the reverent ending by resisting the urge to rush; the restraint before the final moment carries its own power

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece of a concert exploring African-American musical traditions, or use it as a stylistic bridge in a program mixing classical and contemporary works. At 2:45, it fits comfortably in festival rotations and works well as a closer that leaves the audience with both energy and emotional resonance.

Skills your students will build

  • Contrasting articulation and phrasing between lyrical and rock-style passages
  • Rhythmic precision in contemporary groove-based writing
  • Dynamic control across a broad range from intimate to powerful
  • Balance and blend when primary melodic material shifts between sections
  • Musical storytelling through style and tempo relationships

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