Echelon Music Press

02/18/2026

New music for soloist and band. I am introducing a new series for instrumental soloist with band accompaniment at a grade 2 level.
Each set contains 3 original pieces for band and soloist. The solo part is transcribed for each instrument in unison. Care has been taken to insure playability within melodic structure. Each player receives a solo part and an accompaniment part. You can rehearse the solo part in unison with the entire band, then work the accompaniment part, then put them all together using any combination of instruments(s). A piano acc. part is also included so you could use any of the pieces for solo contest. Could make a great concert set with featuring your top players actually getting to solo with the full band behind them. Solos and band parts are mostly grade 2.

Avionics: I. Blackbird II. Warthog III. Phantom https://www.jwpepper.com/11666066.item

Cosmos: I. Pathfinder II. Voyager III. Pioneer https://www.jwpepper.com/11668718.item

Mechanicals: I. Avanti II. Malibu III. Cobra https://www.jwpepper.com/11672192.item

Set 4 coming soon.

01/21/2026

Had a great time at Midwest, now preparing for TMEA in February. Then Nebraska Bandmasters in early March. Also had a premier of
"Bedlam in the Badlands" performed by the Young Peoples Concert Orchestra, St. Louis, Mo. Thanks so much to Sarah Dane & Michael Farris. And the group really played well!!

33 new releases last year and I have 3 new pieces for solo instrumental with band or piano accompaniment. Three different solos in each, grade 2. Avionics, Cosmos, Mechanicals. All are available through

Leon Steward (b. 1959) Originally from Baytown, Texas received a B.S. in music theory & composition, and a M.Med from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Mr. Steward taught instrumental music for 38 years all in Texas before retiring in 2019. He has over 400 works to his credit that include band, o...

12/10/2025

Getting excited about Midwest! Come by our booth #2024 and see the new stuff or just say hello and visit.

11/08/2025

Exciting news from Echelon Music!

4 new pieces to be performed at Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic this December.

Voices in The Wind - Full Orchestra - Leon Steward
Rhythmic Ceremonial Rituals - Symphonic Band - Steward
Lagna Verde - Jazz Ensemble - Steward
Biscuits & Gravy - Jazz Ensemble - Steward

Also, a premier of "Bedlam in The Badlands" for full orchestra by Leon Steward coming in January. To be performed by The Young Person's Concert Orchestra at the Community Music School at Webster University.

And "The Power of One" by Leon Steward commissioned by the George Thompson Intermediate School Band, Choir and Orchestra, Pasadena, Texas will be premiered this spring.

11/08/2025

Latest Releases from Echelon Music Press

Jazz Ensemble:

Laguna Verde (latin) gr. 2 $45. Steward
Lunch Combo #3 (med. latin) gr.4 $45. Steward
A Disrespectful Level of Krank Lacking Basic Hygiene Steward
(funk) gr. 4 $50.
The Shaky Ed Shuffle (med fast shuffle) gr.3 $40 Steward
Biscuits & Gravy (funk) gr. 4 $50 Steward
Fat Jack Took Issue With The Bouncer (rock) gr. 4 $45. Steward

Concert Band:

The Pillars of Creation gr. 3 $50. Bennette
Doune Castle gr. 2 $50. Bennette
Protectors of the Realm gr. 3.5 $60. Steward
Iron Horizon (concert march) gr. 2 $50. Steward

Woodwind Ensembles:

Of The First Water (ww choir) gr. 2 $20. Steward
The Kangaroo Court of Antioch (ww choir) gr. 2 $18 Steward
Two Georgia Peaches and a Tennessee Squat Melon
(ww choir) gr. 2.5 $20. Steward
Woppy Jawed Square Dance (ww choir) gr. 4 $20. Steward
Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May (clarinet choir)
gr. 2.5 $20 Steward

Brass Ensembles:

Autobahn (Horn quartet) gr. 3 $18. Steward
The Brown Sound Vol. 3 (horn trio) gr. 2 $20. Steward
The Fifth Columnist (brass choir) gr. 2 $20. Steward
Run What Ya Brung (brass choir) gr. 3 $20. Steward
And Thy Camel Doth Runneth (brass choir) gr. 2 $20.
Symphony #21, Mvt 1 (brass quintet) gr. 3.5 $20. Steward

All titles can be perused at jwpepper.com. Just search Echelon Music Press.

09/10/2025

New releases so far for Echelon Press
all titles are available through jwpepper.com/myscore

Concert Band:
Pillars of Creation - Kelly Bennette grade 3
Doune Castle - Bennette grade 2
Protectors of the Realm - Steward Grade 3.5
Toom Suba - Scott Johnson Grade 2

Marches:
Iron Horizon - Steward grade 2
Desert Winds - Johnson grade 2

Jazz Ensemble:
Laguna Verde - Steward (latin) grade 2
Lunch Combo #3 - Steward (latin) for combo grade 4
A Disrespectful Level of Krank Lacking Basic Hygiene - Steward (rock/funk) grade 4
Bisuits & Gravy - Steward (funk) grade 4
Fat Jack Took Issue wth the Bouncer - Steward (rock) grade 4

Brass Ensembles:
The Fifth Columnist - Steward grade 2 (32211)
Run What Ya Brung - Steward grade 3 (22211)
And Thy Camel Doth Runneth - Steward grade 2 (22211)
Symphony #21 Mvt 1 - Steward grade 4 (brass quintet)

woowind choir:
Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May - Steward
grade 2.5 (clarinet choir)

Full Orchestra:
Symphony No. 25 - Steward grade 5
Suite Yerbouti - Steward grade 4

Stop by at our booth #2024 at Midwest and say hi!
We will also be at TMEA once again in Feb.

06/20/2025

How I write tunes. Titles-part B.

Titles from movie references:

Imminent Rueage: Twister (The first one). " He will rue the day he came up against the extreme. We are talking Imminent Rueage!"
In The Forest of the Happy Trees: A tribute to Bob Ross, Landscape artist extraordinaire.
Rhythmic Ceremonial Rituals: Back to the Future part 1. When Marty and Doc Brown go to the high school, they are discussing a way to get Marty's parents together. "The enchantment under the sea dance. Yes! Some kind of Rhythmic Ceremonial Ritual".
The Legend of the Loc-Naar: The evil force from the fantasy movie "Heavy Metal".
Necron 99: An assassin renamed "peace" in the Ralph Bakshi animated feature "Wizards".
Elinore, Fairy Princess of Montagar: From the movie "Wizards"
Blackwolf: The dark wizard from Ralph Bashki's "Wizards"

WWII:
Caravan to Midnight: Jews being transported to Auschwitz.
The Burned Earth: Russian destruction of Austria after the war.
Their Ashes Fell Like Snow: death camp crematoriums.
Escape from Sobibor: Escape from concentration camp.
Ghost Army

Titles from books:
The Songs of Distant Earth: sci-fi from Arthur C. Clarke
Revival: Stephen King
Do Penguins Have Knees?: David Feldman
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep: Stephen Dick short story which was the basis of "Blade Runner".
The Lorax: Dr. Suess

More to come!

06/20/2025

How I write tunes: Third installment.

People seem to find my titles of songs interesting, humorous and sometimes perplexing. So, I will give you a rundown of some of my catalog and what they mean and/or originate.

Many of the marches have military references or locations.

Fort Parker March: 1800's fort in Texas.
Gitmo: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba marine base
Hangar Nine: Was located at Brooks AFB, (San Antonio) during WWII.
Martindale National Guard Airfield: Training base in SE San Antonio during WWII.
Rattlesnake Junction: Abandoned AFB in Texas.
The Seventh Cavalry' Gen Custer's command until "Little Big Horn"
Stormin Norman: Nickname of Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf.

Historical Events or locations:

Black Sky, White Sands: Alamogordo, New Mexico
A Giant Under the Hill: Spindletop Oil Gusher, Beaumont, Texas
Memphis: Memphis, Egypt / Memphis, Tenn.
109 East Palace: Santa Fe, N. Mexico. (Manhattan Project)
Los Alamos: N. Mexico (Manhattan Project)
Castlegarde: Medieval French Castle.
Dunnotar: Castle in Scotland
Crosby Beach: Wales, UK.
Winslow: Winslow, AZ
Nowhere Arizona: Town in Arizona named "Nowhere"
Nazare: Large waves off the coast of Portugal.

Some more interesting titles:

Bring a Nickel, Tap Yer Feet: From the CCR song "Down on the Corner"
We Have Assumed Control: Last line of "2112" by Rush.
Juggernaut: An Unstoppable force. Title of 1982 album by Frank Marino. (great album)
Heavy Duty Judy: borrowed from Frank Zappa
Interstellar Overdrive: song title from Pink Floyd's first album "A Piper at the Gates of Dawn".
Does the Hunter Pity Its Prey?: A line from "Paradise Lost" by Symphony X.
Bedlam in the Badlands: Title of AC/DC tune fron "Flick of the Switch"

03/09/2025

Echelon Press will be exhibiting at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic this December. Really excited about the opportunity to meet new folks and expand our brand.

02/26/2025

I have started a series on "How I compose". Your mileage may vary. Today's questions. How do you select a key? simple, playability. If you are writing for winds, flat keys are best. Writing for strings, sharp keys. Vocal, really doesn't matter unless you are constantly changing key. Next tip is that I decide what instrumentation and difficulty level I will be using. Learn the instruments, fingerings, ranges, timbre etc. Learn orchestration. I would not presume to teach anyone how to write a melody, but there are some great books on orchestration.

I tend to write melody first then figure out what progression to use.
Make melodies tuneful. Tuneful is a very vague description because what is tuneful to you may not be to someone else. Mozart wrote great melodies. Frank Zappa also wrote great melodies, but many people found these to be "ugly" or "harsh". Do your own thing.

If you want people to play your music, try to keep the musician in mind and keep all parts interesting. Sousa wrote great stuff but really didn't care much for interesting Horn parts. I am a horn player so if you know, you know. The music should be easy to understand on first playing, regardless of the difficulty level. Also make it interesting for the audience. Hopefully they can walk away with a catchy tune in their ear.

02/18/2025

After getting to visit with several new folks at 4 States Bandmasters and TMEA, I get a common question about composition. How do you write? Well, it really isn't that complicated. Just sit down and do it. Write anything. Write a lot. Write everyday...something, good or bad. It takes practice to come up with a good melody. And for me, melody comes first by far. I keep a music notebook handy to jot down any ideas that come up. Usually, the ideas happen when I am doing yard work, driving somewhere or just sitting doing nothing.

I am an improvisational writer, which means I start with and idea then see what works with that, then see what works with those two ideas, etc. Sometimes putting two or three melodies together with the same progression works out pretty cool. Claude Smith was really effective with this.

And, Stephen King says, "When writing anything, edit, edit, delete, correct, edit again until it is perfect for you". There really isn't any such thing as good or bad music because we all have our opinion on what we like as a listener. The real test is does it work? Does the music make sense? Does it flow, fit together and lead to a logical story and ending?

Also, when writing, make it fun for the player and listener. Some composers are just a little too full of themselves.

02/05/2025

FYI. our website (echelonmusicpress.org) is no longer available. We will be doing all sales directly through jwpepper.com. The page is obviously still here.