The Yellow Board

The Yellow Board
[ The Yellow Board ]

Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by Helpwanted on 3/25/2025, 7:36 am

Does anyone have any suggestions or favorites for Spring Concert/Region Band style pieces that are advanced (4+ to 5 difficulty) that don’t include Ride by Hazo? 😅 Looking for a fun “wow” piece to close our spring concert with that the kids will really enjoy digging into.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by TBone on 3/30/2025, 8:36 pm, in reply to "Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music"

Godzilla Eats Las Vegas - Whitacre

Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by band on 3/28/2025, 2:06 pm, in reply to "Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music"

Oracle by Eric Rath is on the PML but I think qualifies as more of a fun piece, in the grade 4 range, with an extended percussion feature

Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by TrumpetMan on 3/26/2025, 10:25 pm, in reply to "Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music"

Try "Fate of the Gods" by Stephen Reincke...it's an excellent grade 4 I believe with lots of good stuff!

Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by Inner-City BD II on 3/28/2025, 8:44 am, in reply to "Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music"

Reineke has a ton of great music that's not on many lists. It's all very programmatic.

Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by Musicfriend on 3/25/2025, 2:20 pm, in reply to "Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music"

Melodius Thunk
"Mambo" from West Side Story

would be a couple that I think could be fun. There's a ton of good stuff out there- maybe check jwpepper and search by difficulty

Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by Composer10 on 3/25/2025, 10:55 am, in reply to "Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music"

What's your email? I'll send you a piece!

Re: Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music

Posted by Me on 3/25/2025, 9:48 am, in reply to "Challenging but “Cool” Spring Concert Music"

As always, this gives me a perfect chance to suggest the following:

1. David Holsinger has a ton of music that isn't on the PML, and a good bunch of it is in that "fun" category you're talking about. He was much more popular about 20-30 years ago but his music is still quite good.

2. Cirque do Soleil arranged by Victor Lopez. It's on the easier side of a Grade 4, possibly even a 3.5, but it's got some definite meat your kids can sink their teeth into.

« Back to index

[ The Yellow Board ]