The Music of Ryan Meeboer

WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE!

I am a Canadian composer/arranger and music educator.  Whether you are a music educator, a professional musician, or student, please listen out my pieces for concert band, jazz band, and small ensembles.

Also, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to find videos featuring score viewing with playback audio.

Thank you for visiting my site and I hope you enjoy checking out my music!

NEW CONCERT BAND FOR 2025

THE DARKEST HOUR – Grade Level: 0.5

The Darkest Hour is a musical depiction of an orc army ready to storm a castle. Intense and dramatic crescendos and suspenseful chords are complimented with strong themes in all voices. Lots of energy and excitement is created with limited notes suitable for this level of player. Fun to play and great for an audience to enjoy, this title is an ideal concert or contest selection.

ON THE MOVE – Grade Level: 0.5

On the Move is the perfect song to transition students from the method book to playing ensemble music. Composed mainly using the first seven pitches learned in most method books and nothing faster than a quarter note by wind instruments, this pieces use unison rhythms with block harmonies to give performers more experience reading music that is not monophonic.

A WARRIOR’S DEPARTURE – Grade Level: 1

As a brave warrior leaves their home to venture on a quest, they leave behind friends and family in search of honour and glory. This composition represents the emotions that are felt by A Warrior’s Departure.

TWILIGHT’S GLOW – Grade Level: 1

Twilight’s Glow is a lyrical song that is a great option to introduce a developing ensemble to 3/4 metre. Composed using ABA form, this piece moves the melody through various sections to create different emotions and give the sensation of the final glimmer of light at the end of the day.

THE FINAL DESCENT – Grade Level: 1.5​

​The term ‘final descent’ has many meanings. This composition is a musical representation of the last push to achieve a goal: it is suspenseful, dramatic, exciting, emotional and most importantly, fun to play!

SPECTRE DANCE – Grade Level: 1.5

Imagine what it would be like to walk through a graveyard just as the spirits awaken to have a party: dancing demons, skipping skeletons and frolicking phantoms. Set in a minor mode and using a waltz metre, Spectre Dance makes creative use of percussion to set the mood of such a scene.

AT FIRST LIGHT – Grade Level: 1.5​

​At First Light is a lyrical composition and is as calming as a morning sunrise. Written in AABA form, the piece evolves from a quiet and peaceful opening to an exuberant ending, as the sun fully illuminates the horizon.

NEW JAZZ BAND FOR 2024

VIDA DEL SOL (Life of the Sun) – Grade Level: EASY​

Vida del Sol (Life of the Sun) is a straight ahead Latin chart with a catchy groove and interesting parts for all players.  With lots of opportunity to work on both technical and jazz skills, young musicians will find this chart both fun and challenging to play. There are written out solos included for Trumpet, Tenor Sax and Trombone.

FRIDAY NIGHT SWING – Grade Level: Easy​

This jump swing chart (a la Sing, Sing Sing) came into existence when a young drummer was being helped to learn the different swing beats often used in jazz music, many of which are used throughout this song. There are written out solos included for Tenor Sax and Trombone.

YOU ARE THE ONE – Grade Level: Easy​

Featuring a relaxed Latin style, this chart is scored to have fun parts for every section.  The main melody is based on a four note riff that you could literally sing the words ‘You are the one’ to every time you hear it. There are written out solos included for Trumpet and Trombone.

JUST CHILLIN’ – Grade Level: Easy-Medium

Just Chillin’ is a fun, laid back funk-rock chart with simple repetitive melodies and a catchy accompaniment. There are written out solos included for Alto Sax and Trumpet.

FLEXIBLE BAND SERIES

The following titles are available in FLEXIBLE BAND versions for use in classrooms with non-traditional instrumentation.  These pieces can be played with as little as five instruments up to a full band, including percussion.

Visit the CONCERT BAND section of this site to hear recordings of these pieces.

Grade 0.5

Grade 1.5

Grade 2