What I Do Today...: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$65.00 USD

What I Do Today...: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: What I Do Today...: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1882
Price: 65.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-B1882

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One moment…

"Who will be better because of what I do today?" These words inspire the opening chorale and the joyous celebration that follows. A powerful reminder of how each of us can affect positive change in the people and world around us, the music eventually erupts in a euphoria of sound, almost akin to a pop music concert. As quickly as this comes, the chorale returns once more, leaving everyone with a sense of peace.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, What I Do Today...: 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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Series: FJH Young Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444447734

SKU: 98-B1882

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages composes across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms with equal fluency, and his works have graced stages from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. His honors include the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest, and election to the American Bandmasters Association. He has conducted all-state ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups worldwide, and served as a guest conductor at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, and numerous regional conferences.

Balmages holds degrees from James Madison University and the University of Miami, institutions that have both recognized his contributions to music; JMU awarded him their inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award, and the University of Miami commissioned him to compose for the inauguration of its sixth president. His music reached a national audience when it was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

This piece elegantly bridges the introspective and the celebratory, giving your students an emotionally intelligent experience rather than just a technical exercise. The opening chorale establishes profound stillness before the music builds into something genuinely joyful and energized, making it a natural choice for programs that need to convey meaning without demanding virtuosity. At Grade 2.5, it's accessible enough for developing bands but sophisticated enough to hold an audience's attention at festival or concert.

What to expect

The piece opens with quiet dignity and a philosophical question that hangs in the air, then transforms into an exuberant, almost anthemic celebration that feels genuinely alive. It settles back into contemplation by the end, leaving your band and audience with a sense of purpose and calm reflection.

Who it's for

Grade 2.5 concert bands seeking repertoire with heart and accessibility. This works for programs that want to perform meaningful music at festivals, school concerts, or community events without overreaching technically.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening chorale with real intention behind the text. These students may be young, but they can grasp that the words "Who will be better because of what I do today?" should sound contemplative, not rushed.
Distinguish the celebratory middle section from both the opening and closing by allowing the energy to genuinely escalate. Balmages writes this eruption deliberately, so let it feel earned and uninhibited.
Return to the chorale's original character without losing the vitality your band has just discovered. The ending should feel peaceful but not deflated, as though your students have processed something meaningful.

How to use it

Program this as a concert centerpiece that bookends heavier repertoire, or use it as your closing piece to send an audience out thoughtfully. It also works well at competitions where judges appreciate music that balances technical achievability with emotional substance and compositional craft.