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

$9.00 USD

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

Name: What I Do Today...: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1882S
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-B1882S

$9.00

Shipped

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.

What I Do Today...: Concert Band Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample audio found.

No sample videos found.

Series: FJH Young Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444537992

SKU: 98-B1882S

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has established himself as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber music with equal fluency. His works have been performed by ensembles ranging from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school groups in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House.

Recognized by the American School Band Directors Association with the A. Austin Harding Award and by the American Bandmasters Association as an elected member, Balmages won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest for his work Love and Light. He has received commissions from major institutions, conducted at the Midwest Clinic and College Band Directors Conference, and served as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

This score balances an emotionally resonant message with musical accessibility. Balmages frames the piece around a genuine question about legacy and impact, then supports it with music that moves from contemplative chorale to exuberant celebration and back again, giving your band genuine dramatic arc without technical overreach. At Grade 2.5, it plays to your ensemble's strengths while offering material worth rehearsing seriously.

What to expect

The piece opens with quiet dignity, asking a question that resonates. Energy builds into an almost infectious jubilation, bright and celebratory like a moment of genuine communal joy, before settling back into peaceful reflection. It's music that lands emotionally without sentiment.

Who it's for

Directors programming Grade 2.5 bands who want music with substance and purpose. This work works for concert settings, festival play, and programs centered on themes of growth, responsibility, or community impact.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening chorale with careful attention to balance and phrase direction; the text underscores the emotional weight, so conduct with intention rather than merely marking time.
Prepare your rhythm section to lock in tightly during the upbeat celebration section, as the energy shift demands crisp ensemble response.
Return to the chorale with the same care you gave it initially, resisting the urge to rush. The piece's power lies in this reflective closure after the earlier fervor.

How to use it

Open a concert with this if you want to set a thoughtful tone, or anchor a thematic program around leadership and service. The piece works equally well as a festival selection, where its combination of musical appeal and positive message connects with adjudicators and audiences. Consider pairing it with contrasting repertoire to highlight its distinctly uplifting character.