Choose Joy (Randall Standridge, Grade 3, Concert Band) - part of the unBroken Project

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Why Choose Joy?
Commissions can take many forms. I have written pieces that celebrate special occasions, I have written works that tackle serious issues, I have created commissioned pieces that commemorate historical events, and I have written commissions that encouraged me to just play around in my imagination.
I have also written too many that are memorial works. Each piece of this type is a reminder to me (and, I hope, to the audience and performers) that time is our greatest gift and most valuable asset, and we are always spending it, whether we intend to or not. When we ask someone for their hand in marriage, we are asking for and offering our most treasured possession. Our time. Our lives. When we choose a profession, we are agreeing to dedicate our time to this. When we lose someone, we are simultaneously grateful for the time we have had with them and grieving for that time being depleted.
We never get time back. Ever.
In May 2021, I was approached by Joe Glass of Salyards Middle School about a commission. Joe and I have collaborated on a work before (Siege), in which I spent a week with him, his staff, and his students to create a work. We created a fun piece of music, but more importantly we created a friendship that has continued ever since. It was time well spent.
Joe asked if I would be interested in a new commission, but that the circumstances were somewhat unusual. It is with his permission and the permission of the family involved that I am sharing these details. He told me about Nicole Crandall, a recent graduate from the high school that Joe's program feeds and his former student. Nicole had been battling Level 4 Glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer. She was then 20 years old and had been moved into hospice care. To celebrate her, they have asked that I create a work in her honor. Illness is the thief of time.
In spite of this, Nicole and her family had created a motto that they used to navigate this difficult time. “Choose Joy”. I was very moved by this, as I feel too many people waste their time (and their lives) choosing hate, choosing anger, choosing misery. Do those emotions legitimately exist? Absolutely, but I can safely say for myself that there have been moments where I gave energy to them and fed them, instead of shutting them down.
Choose Joy. I like that.
For those of you that may have been touched by cancer (either yourself or a loved one), I am sure you can agree that we never know how much time we are given on this Earth, but life events such as these can put a lot of things in perspective.
To Joe, thank you for trusting me with this project.
To Nicole and her family, thank you for reminding us that happiness can be a choice, even in the face of incredible adversity.
It is raining as I finish writing this, and I looked out my window just now. Instead of thunderheads, there is a rainbow shining in the heavens.
Even in the darkest clouds, there can be beauty and light.
Peace, Love, and Music

[@Charlesr3618]

Getting to play this at the region band concert was such a blessing. I really felt connected as it was the one year anniversary of my aunts passing and knowing what this song was originally written for, I cried

[@dramatictrumpet8441]

Yes!! Playing this at region was such an amazing experience

[@uajrh1]

Did you play for TPSMEA??

[@Peter2lo]

Did you play it for TMEA middle school region band? If so what Instrument do you play

[@Charlesr3618]

@@Peter2lo no I played it for ATSSB high school region. And trumpet!

[@mr.random4681]

​@@Charlesr3618did you play this in region 21 symphonic? I was 5th horn!

[@Railfanner109]

As someone who knows the meaning behind this song, I was literally holding back tears because how sad it was😭

[@requep]

what is the meaning behind it?

[@Railfanner109]

@@requep so there was this kid in high school who was suffering from brain cancer and the hospital couldn’t heal him or her. So Randall made this song called choose joy because there can be happiness in mostly everything and happiness is also a choice. And he made this song to remember that person

[@thesweetslumberpodcast5018]

Yes, that’s the story. And “Choose Joy” was the theme she chose for her battle with cancer! She is my niece (really my husband’s niece). Thanks for appreciating the song. ❤

[@jelliebeans04]

i played it in a program with standridge as the clinician, i cried every time we rehearsed it

[@jelliebeans04]

@@thesweetslumberpodcast5018i had mr standridge as a clinician for a band program recently and i was so moved by this student’s story. i hope you and your family is doing well💕

[@Violets_and_Thorns]

im glad they put the warning that no percussionists were harmed in this piece

[@randallstandridge]

You're welcome. 😜

[@TSFVoidedXP]

@@randallstandridge Thank you for inspiring me to make music, thank you for being such a kind composer, and thank you for making hundreds of thousands of people enjoy life just that little bit more with your music!

[@Axolotlfriend264]

HA HA you think this one should have a warning label check out JS jig that one should have the label saying no percussionist were harmed

[@GGOBLINN]

Randall, from a former band kid who performed a lot of your pieces, you never disappoint with your work and it’s always incredibly fun to play.

[@Noel_986]

The songs I've played from him are brave spirit and armory which are some of my favorite songs

[@aliciadalbey1201]

I love the quotation of Ode to joy in there. After reading the program notes and listening to it again I teared up a bit. This is an amazing piece.

[@Lollipopmix729]

I dont hear how its similar to ode of joy??

[@sirdog9355]

measures 150-153 are a direct quote of ode to joys main motif :) @@Lollipopmix729

[@mlgamer5979]

@@Lollipopmix729 0:54 has a chimes part that references it for a bit.

[@Lollipopmix729]

@@mlgamer5979ahhh I finally hear it ty!

[@ireallydontknow9958]

@@Lollipopmix729also at 2:37 and going forward

[@thedogethatgames]

I may not have this piece, but after the first 10 measures I definitely want it

[@randallstandridge]

Awesome! I'm glad you like it! Good doge!

[@natedodson6670]

We got to play this at our middle school honors band concert. And we rocked it, but for someone who’s played a lotttt of Randell Standridges songs. Let me just say, he’s an amazing composer

[@natedodson6670]

Although the should try and make a slow song 😂

[@Saylesswashing14]

He has made a slower song " fields of clover"

[@Adiraisnthere]

My 7/8 band is playing this,and every time I see your name on our music I get excited because I know it’s going to be beautiful.

[@gavyntapp7689]

2:09 to 2:33 is my absolute favorite, just a beautiful key change and progression into the Eb at the end

[@rustymyles]

YES

[@kaylagarrison1990]

This is the last piece we are playing with our seniors, going to cherish it forever!

[@thesweetslumberpodcast5018]

That’s awesome!

[@ethansucksatcuphead]

god dammit now i'm crying. its my senior year and realistically my last year in band, i'm so not ready for it all to be over lol.

[@LIBERALSARESTUPID1218]

What Randall did with this peice is truly amazing. When my director read the director's notes my section leader almost started crying because the girl this song was written aboit played saxophone so this piece truly means a lot to us saxophones.

[@thesweetslumberpodcast5018]

Nicole was really special. Glad she inspired you! So glad this piece was written for her!

[@cherryadams2014]

The metronome my band teacher played is permanently ingrained in my brain for this song

[@sangbui6335]

i am so honored for mr. randall standridge to be our conductor for this and (not) alone at the ohio northern university honors festival. thank you again mr standridge, i still got the folder with your autograph!!

[@randallstandridge]

Thank you, I hope it was a good experience!

[@KoolKat_YT]

This is TRUE representation of Grade 3 music.

[@evanvenegas09]

Randall strandige thank you for the best concert band comp song of all time

[@1of1391]

I played this today at honors band on trumpet on the year anniversary of my friend passing what an amizing piece

[@thesweetslumberpodcast5018]

Wow that’s really special. ❤It was written for my husband’s niece. I love hearing that it was meaningful for you.

[@WilsonProductions88]

Playing this for our next concert and still learning it, personally I love it all including the trumpet and low brass/low reed parts

[@randomcamera746]

last year, this was our band's theme song, as our goal was to choose joy!

[@phantmnk3871]

I. LOVE. THIS. PIECE

[@elbow_tan_gaming1302]

I remember playing "Affirmation" last year, and now we are playing this song. It feels like a perfect and equally epic sequel.

[@sportzboi8269]

We did affirmations for a black history program and this song for our spring concert and we’re only an 8th grade band in so nervous.

[@ashtonrelevo]

Dear Randall Strandrige, This happened recently (December 21) we played this piece for Midwest our school was named Krimmel Intermediate Symphonic Band. You listened on some parts of the piece and told us that it was very good. That made everyone feel calm and excited for the concert. I am a French horn who is in the seventh grade and got 1st chair in regions. I really enjoyed this piece and Choose joy was the best opener for a Midwest clinic performance

[@Royale_Estella]

I played this is my 8th grade band class and hearing this brought back so many memories

[@insomniasucks_]

I'm in 9th grade at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High and have had the privilege of learning this song. I play trumpet and am trumpet 2 for this song and it's incredible playing this song and hearing how my class has progressed playing it. We are now perfecting it for our spring concert and it is my favorite song to play. I'll follow up with how we did when we play it at our concert :)

[@asta6121]

you got this!!

[@akitsu3974]

This is probably the best piece of music I have played in band ❤ I will never forget this piece

[@uraviko]

my 8th grade band is playing this at the NSBA in March!!

[@KayleighRisques-xg7uu]

Yall Randall was my band directors best friend in high school!!

[@thatonecandor]

I’m totally forcing myself to watch these videos so I at least have some type of practice for District and then I’ll practice tomorrow, but I can already tell this’ll be fun-

[@thatonecandor]

Eeeeyyy, I was right- I did actually practice

[@FloppyMcflopperton]

This song is truly the greatest song of all time I cry when I hear that solo. Such an amazing piece that I was lucky enough to perform

[@The-official-grindel]

Which solo

[@maztx420]

@@The-official-grindel probably chimes

[@akemitsusuel7583]

Which one

[@llorando1762]

Very inspiring commentary to describe an awesome piece. We are playing this at our own CMEA festival this year, and it is one of the best pieces we're going to play for our symphonic band!

[@yikes2024]

playing this at band clinic this weekend. i love this piece sm!!!

[@Bogolyboo]

My 8th grade class is learning to play this and we love jt

[@Justinwithane]

I just got the Mallet 1 piece today (I was voluntold 🙄) and thx to this l learned half the song already 😁

[@The-official-grindel]

Yo I’m also mallet 1

[@Justinwithane]

@@The-official-grindel glock and whip gang 🤘🏽

[@Zoey-_-]

@@Justinwithaneoh yeaaaa 🎉

[@leosamontesdad]

I’m mallet 2 but still get the whip. I’ve never been happier

[@graceweaver9364]

I loved playing this song in my wind ensemble. We ended up winning 4th in the state with this song in our set and that made school history.

[@thesweetslumberpodcast5018]

Wow!

[@shulmpino5505]

I really like 2:12-2:34 beautiful and precise execution from Standridge

[@aubreyirving3512]

My band was going to play this song originally. We all voted and ended up choosing one of your older songs, Ruckus, to play instead. I'm in love with this song, but I think Ruckus matches some of our other songs better. I would have had to play the chimes for this. It seems stressful but fun at the same time!

[@clothes1398]

i love being the clarinet soloist in this! i love playing this piece and im very excited to perform it for districts!!

[@MemeGamerBoi]

This song is so beautiful

[@dumbpunk1165]

playing this at KMEA was literally the best. felt so special

[@houdinitwo]

I LOVE the staccato eighth note part for the law brass and low winds at 107 (go bari❤) Also thank you for another banger

[@Cur7y_445]

This song was such a Joy to play 😁

[@TMang0]

I’ve learned this on three different instruments (flute/Picc, trombone, and alto) and it’s so amazing

[@AxolotlVR]

Hey I am a student from Billings and my teacher says she knows you her name is Shannon Waldo but anyways played this for Honor Band and I really love this piece it has become one of my favorite band songs!! Please reply if you know Shannon Waldo

[@lilcatdraws]

My band is learning Choose Joy and a trumpet player behind me said “I choose violence”😂 It’s a fun piece but difficult ngl Edit: We played it tonight and it was so fun. Such a great piece!

[@randomcamera746]

average high brass player: (this post was made by the trombone gang)

[@steverman2312]

i know its not written but i love how you can hear what sounds like one of the horns taking the last 5 notes up an octave lol

[@johnnytheyoungmaestro]

This might be one of my favorites from you, Mr. Standridge! Exciting, fast, and exuberant are just a few ways of describing this. I think everyone deserves to be happy. This piece is an example of something I go by: If you're having a tough day, there's always something to look forward to. Fantastic job!

[@the_tts_person]

I like the last line: No percussionists were harmed in the making of this video...

[@elizabethpichey6504]

As a 5’3 percussionist playing the chimes part I can say…I had a crate to stand on just to play the part fast enough lol

[@ChurroAntelope]

After hearing another band play this, i think i have some work to do before we can go to our next big concert 😲

[@thebestauthor8212]

We played this in my band class and the director had this whole talk with us about how he met Randall Standride in real life once and he’s super buff. Like talking for like 5-10 minutes about how buff the composer is

[@AlexaBliss-p8d]

Soaring at 79 is so heavenly

[@moltenlavaguy9334]

I get to play this in my final High School winter concert. Definitely a fitting piece to begin the end of my formal music education. It has also overtaken Riverside Overture by Robert Sheldon as my favorite piece that I have played.

[@M.E.2]

When we got this piece my director told us the story behind it. That spiraled into a long conversation in the middle of class. At the time I was really debating on quitting band because I was always stressed about doing well. Here’s what he said that stuck with me- “I don’t care how well you play it, I just want you to have fun. Band should bring you joy.” And now I live by these words everyday, “choose joy”

[@User-12063]

🤓😊

[@thesweetslumberpodcast5018]

Love this!!!

[@odaily7916]

So glad I got to play this in 8th grade

[@xaveryatencio8749]

I played this at state band contest last school year and we received a superior rating.

[@lightknight8452]

Love this piece on euphonium

[@lightknight8452]

Especially the part in the second page I’m the only euphonium in my band and it’s my solo now

[@emilyb29]

i just played this piece at a competition with my band! we won first for three different sections including overall btw 😉❤

[@-L-I-L-Y-]

I’m playing this song for my concert, AND I GOT THE FLUTE SOLO!!!! I’M SO HAPPY OMGGG 😭

[@toastuh1937]

Played this as a Euph! For Dixie Band Camp. I loved the piece, stressed out over the last page because I wasn't used to playing that fast 😭 I did cry, but that's not the point. I loved it. My first 3 page piece to ever play aside from my Runner year marching show: "Only This Way Tells"

[@psychsphere]

from salyards middle school where he wrote seige, i got to play this before it was published and is still my favorite piece to play

[@OneDumbDude]

Great song and so glad we got to play it for my Christmas concert!

[@bethanybands6725]

Somewhere in Texas: Oh yeah! We played this in the sixth grade band!

[@FloppyMcflopperton]

I tear up to this song every time

[@frog3277]

Just played this at a university honor band. Definitely the best piece of day and was a blast to play (trumpet btw)! Gotta say this piece also takes a record of the most tiring piece to play for me 😅

[@harrykoester]

I love this one

[@randallstandridge]

Thank you! Maybe if I work harder you can like all the other ones as well. :)

[@harrykoester]

@@randallstandridge I haven't listened to a song written by you that I don't like

[@itzxxhaloxx4361]

This piece was actually originally commissioned by my band for a past drum major, thank you for honoring her so wonderfully.

[@real8981]

I got my bd to let our class play this song yayayy cuz I love it sm

[@NotLioncub]

Getting to play this as a concert in band and a graduation for highschool

[@TheArtsyBee]

I love this so much. We're playing this for one of our concert band pieces in the spring at my high school, and I've been practicing it non-stop since we first sight read it (which was yesterday). It's so fun and I just really enjoy listening to it and playing it. Not to mention the project it's a part of (which my band teacher often mentions in class).

[@inverthusiast7412]

I played this in 8th grade this past year, and it's my favorite piece I've ever played

[@justafan7249]

This was a absurdly incredible piece to play at massed bands and i love the inspiration from ode to joy

[@burnt_chiknuggy9284]

I have this piece and it is one of my favorite pieces of music I got.

[@thesweetslumberpodcast5018]

Thank you for writing this amazing piece for Nicole and her family. It is an amazing gift to them and to each of us, her extended family. We love that her story is being shared through this beautiful, celebratory piece. We were so excited when our kids’ school in Iowa played it last year and we will get to hear it this weekend in an honor band performance. I can’t wait to hear and feel Nicole’s joy again! This is an eternal tribute to an extraordinary girl.

[@randallstandridge]

Thank you. It was my honor to write a piece to celebrate her life and her family. Many people can relate to this story.

[@TheSymphonium-CTYT]

My symphonic 2 band playing it and cool.

[@neonx6568]

I really love the chord textures on this. The harmonies are absolutely sublime, and during the half note part all of the resolutions are absolutely phenomenal

[@haikujime]

im so excited to play this for competition, i play mallet 2! also loved playing the nine on the chimes two years ago for my concert, beautiful music

[@haikujime]

update: we got a one overall and we’re going to states!! :)

[@Zoey-_-]

I play the mallet one! I’m so excited to play the slap stick part, it’s my favorite but congratulations!!!

[@thegamerandvlogger3469]

I played this today at my UIL concert, such a good song, love how he snuck the beethoven melody in, overall very complex, but awesome song

[@TMang0]

I performed this once at all district, and heard it at UNCP honours band. I even have my copy signed by you. Definitely one of my favorite pieces to exist

[@SeeingStrawbies]

Playing this at contest, can't wait to get 1st place with this piece!

[@Baylee0]

As a fellow trombone player I will say playing measures 107 is pain but it’s fun

[@fisheranderson2597]

I love this so much! So happy!!!

[@ElevatorsOfSouthernNC]

We played this earlier tonight. This was my favorite out of the 4 pieces. Update: I’m now playing this for my school’s spring concert.

[@tj1lincoln182]

My school were playing speed mirage photo finish paradise awaiting not alone and choose joy

[@mancyankjr6376]

Out of all the pieces you've written, this is the best one ive heard, this is insane

[@larsmiles7231]

May have to talk our director into letting me double the bass clarinet part on contra. It would sound great in this piece.

[@randallstandridge]

It absolutely would!

[@User-_-Invalid]

Absolutely love the bass clarinet

[@MiguelPerez-cf2tc]

I played this song for UIL and we got perfect ones. This song is just amazing.

[@DogeCosplay]

Beautiful 😢😢🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@TheLias_Squad4Life]

My sister played this in her eighth grade band concert

[@elizawalters4057]

i am an 8th grade flute and my band teacher has asked all the 8th graders to know how to play this so we can play it with the high school. its alot😵‍💫

[@Iceekreme]

Yea I'm an 8th grader on clarinet and I just played this for my band tonight its a really cool peice idk how it is for flute but it has some cool parts

[@eventide3924]

i have played 3 pieces from you reign, choose joy , and with every winters breath and every song has been great

[@MajesticCatto]

As the mallet 2 player I am outraged but still excited for my performance on Saturday

[@sofiaandersen4320]

I’m playing this in band right now and I can’t wait to perform it. My first concert on a piccolo😁. Can’t wait till the piccolo sounds good. And I’m tune😅

[@chargers216]

Just played this for UIL got all ones love this song

[@ItsTeckzi]

I played this in my band class in 8th grade and it was so fun

[@emuballoon]

sight read this after a school from our shared band concert played this song and it was so fun to play!, i hope we can play it in our spring concert

[@Roxanneredpanda]

We played this at Dover Eyota and it was a lot of fun, great work as always Randall Standridge

[@randallstandridge]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@matthewshirey6153]

What a great piece, Randall Standridge keep producing amazing works like this one!

[@Hi-do6fo]

So energetic! I love it!

[@michaelwright1295]

This piece sounds a lot like Kirby music! Very nice

[@L0vrzR0ck]

Im so excited to maybe play this for every band director in the state as an 8th grade ensemble in march :))

[@CRZ-8]

2:50 is a struggle for me... Imma keep workin on ittt

[@Oogway876]

I’m just going to say, I enjoyed playing this. In MPA we played Marche Diaboliqe, Canto, and this and it was great, we got almost perfect scores and I had a lot of fun playing these on trombone

[@jrdn8]

I played this at my all district concert. Trombone part is very fun