Warp Speed: Score
By Michael Story
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0004714
$8.00
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Description
Created for students in the end of their first year in band utilizing the first several notes presented in most first-year methods, the speed of the warp drive is up to you! A tremendous opportunity to teach rhythm, pitch and ensemble precision with this high energy original work. (1:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud and Music Prodigy.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Warp Speed: Score 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 Very Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
134
SKU:
00-PR-0004714
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Story
Michael Story is a prolific composer and educator whose work dominates the beginning band repertoire. His gift lies in crafting energetic, engaging pieces that respect the technical limitations of young musicians while refusing to talk down to them musically. Story's output spans thousands of titles across concert band, jazz, and choral literature, making him one of the most performed contemporary composers in American schools.
Why we love this
This piece teaches orchestration principles without overcomplicating them. Every note has a home, every section gets a moment, and the harmonic foundation stays rock-solid even as the energy builds. Directors will appreciate how naturally it develops ensemble balance and confidence in first-year players.
What to expect
The energy is infectious and propulsive, with a sci-fi quality that appeals to young musicians. The high-octane tempo and rhythmic drive create a sense of forward momentum, while the accessible notes ensure nothing derails the fun. It's the sound of a band discovering what it means to play together.
Who it's for
This is designed for concert bands in their first full year, where students have learned only the notes covered in standard first-year methods. It works equally well as a performance piece or a teaching tool, making it ideal for festivals, winter concerts, or mid-year showcases where you want to demonstrate growth without stretching beyond realistic technical boundaries.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the tempo consistent through all section changes. Young bands often rush during transitions, so establish a steady pulse early and maintain it even when the texture shifts.
- Feature your strongest first-year players on the thematic material. This builds their musicality and gives the ensemble a focal point to lock onto during tutti passages.
- Balance the octaves carefully; the piece only uses notes from first-year methods, so doubling is frequent. Make sure higher voices cut through without overpowering the lower foundation.
- Rehearse the ending as a unified moment. That final cutoff is as much a part of the learning experience as the playing itself.
How to use it
Open a concert with this. Its brevity (1:30) and unbridled enthusiasm make it the perfect opener to establish energy and audience engagement. You can also slot it into a festival program to showcase technique and ensemble precision in a piece that feels rewarding rather than remedial.
Skills your students will build
- Steady tempo maintenance through section changes
- Balance and blend across all instrumental families
- Reading and executing rhythmic patterns in unison and octaves
- Ensemble precision with limited note materials
- Confidence in articulation and dynamic control
- Listening to adjacent voices for tuning and alignment