Zero to Ninety!: Score
By Vince Gassi
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0006088
$8.00
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Description
From a standstill, this piece takes off and never lets up. Well . . .maybe just for a brief moment in the pit stop (slow section). But then it's a wild ride to the end. Lots of fun for everyone!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Zero to Ninety!: 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:
Alfred Debut Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
234
SKU:
00-PR-0006088
More about this title
About the Composer: Vince Gassi
Vince Gassi has composed over 100 works since joining the Alfred Music catalog in 2006, establishing himself as a creative voice trusted by music educators nationwide. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario, pursued advanced study at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, and completed his Ph.D. at York University in Toronto. His compositions balance accessibility with musical substance, earning spots on international concert and contest programs.
For more than two decades, Gassi taught instrumental music at elementary and secondary levels while building a reputation as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician across the United States and Canada. His seminars on creative engagement and digital workflows for music directors reflect his commitment to helping educators maximize student learning. His pieces appear regularly at the Midwest Clinic and have been performed and recorded throughout North America, Europe, and Japan.
Why we love this
Gassi writes Grade 1.5 concert band music that actually sounds like a concert, not an exercise. Zero to Ninety! delivers genuine musical storytelling (a race narrative from start to finish) while keeping the technical demands manageable, which means your students experience real repertoire success rather than grinding through a piece that feels beneath them.
What to expect
Zero to Ninety! captures the exhilaration of acceleration and the tension of a pit stop break. The music charges forward with infectious rhythmic drive, pulls back briefly for a moment of contrast, then launches into a satisfying final sprint that leaves audiences grinning.
Who it's for
Conductors programming their first or second concert band festival, or directors teaching young musicians how concert band music can be fun and energetic without sacrificing musicality. The Grade 1.5 difficulty keeps parts achievable for mixed-ability ensembles while the thematic storytelling keeps everyone engaged.
How to get the most out of it
- Build the opening acceleration gradually; even though the tempo climbs quickly, let the dynamic rise match the rhythmic intensity so the "engine" sounds like it's genuinely revving up rather than just getting louder.
- Shape the slow section (pit stop) as a genuine contrast. Bring out the melodic voices and dial back the energy so the return to the fast section lands with maximum impact.
- Lock the articulation across sections; when rhythmic figures move between parts, consistency in tonguing and staccato touch keeps the forward momentum clean and unified.
- Balance the full ensemble at the final drive to the finish. This piece builds to a satisfying climax, so ensure all sections can breathe together without any part getting buried.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic tone and signal that your band plays music, not just notes. It works equally well mid-program as a palate cleanser between heavier selections, or position it as a closing encore for a lighter, more informal performance.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining rhythmic energy and forward motion across longer phrases
- Balancing dynamic control in rising crescendos
- Sectional independence while maintaining ensemble unity
- Contrast between fast and slow material
- Concert band scoring awareness (how parts work together at this level)