Randall Standridge · Santa the Barbarian (Grade 1.5, Concert Band) – Randall Standridge Sample Score (CLICK HERE!) About Santa the Barbarian As I have stated before, I often suffer from an overactive imagination. This is not precisely true, as I don’t really suffer…I enjoy all of the strange ideas that my mind comes up with. …
Randall Standridge · Spring (Concert Band, Grade 1 – Randall Standridge) Sample Score (CLICK HERE!) About Spring I love the seasons. I love the way they mark our lives and provide different context and emotions throughout the year. Spring, to me, is a season of new beginnings and rebirth. Today is March 14, 2021, and…
Randall Standridge · Circuit Breaker (Concert Band and Optional Fixed Media, Grade 1.5) Sample Score (Click Here) About Circuit Breaker I have written for young band for many years, and I’m always amazed at the perceived limits of what students and performers at this level can and cannot achieve. While their technical development should certainly…
Randall Standridge · Groovy-8 (Grade 1, Concert Band) Sample Score (Click Here) Groovy-8 is a throwback to the “mod” style of the 1960s/1970s. This groovy tune focuses on developing 8th note articulation and counting with young musicians, while also providing a fun showcase for bands looking to entertain their audiences. Get into the Groove! Educational…
The Lake of Sorrows Tales from the Darklands, Part 2 By Randall D. Standridge About Tales from the Darklands A few years back, I created a narrative work for concert band entitled The Darklands Symphony, which told the tale of several characters and places that I have created over the years in my imagination…
Program Notes For those of you that are unaware, I was a band director for twelve years. During my time in that occupation, I created many works that had specific educational goals, but would also fit into our concert repertoire as, what I hoped, would be engaging pieces for both the players and the audience. …
Program Notes A few years back, I created a narrative work for concert band entitled The Darklands Symphony, which told the tale of several characters and places that I have created over the years in my imagination through stories, art, and, finally, music. All of the pieces were at the Grade 2-2.5 level, and were…
Program Notes The Christmas season is full of lights, colors, foods, and most importantly…music. The long tradition of Christmas carols is rich in its tapestry of styles, melodies, and overall feeling of good-will. It is from this plethora of songs that I have assembled this medley for young ensembles, A Festival of Carols; in this…
Recently, at the Texas Music Educators Association convention, I had an interesting conversation with a director. She said that she wished there was more beginning band repertoire that taught 6/8, and that most of what she had found was too hard. I put this conversation in the back of my brain and let it cook…
I have been a full time composer so long that sometimes, I think, people forget that I started my career as an educator. I was a band director for twelve years in Harrisburg, AR, and when I say I was a band director, what I actually mean is I was THE band director (for eight…