http://www.randallstandridge.com/

Randall D. Standridge, Composer/Marching Arts Designer, Jonesboro, AR (2025)

10/06/2025

This week marks 28 years since I made the single best decision of my life.

On October, 2, 1997, Steven and I had our first date. We fell into conversation easily, as if we’d known each other all of our lives. I would be lying if I didn’t say I fell in love that first night.

Over the years, that loved has matured from the fast love of youth into the enduring, steady love that sustains the best couples.

For those that follow my career, you have Steven Cazort to thank for much of it.

He is my biggest fan.

He is my first critic.

He is my best friend, my confidant, my support, my business partner…

He is my everything.

At our Wedding/25th Anniversary, I wrote and read these vows to him in front of our Friends, Family, and loved ones.

“I believe that the most valuable thing we possess is time, as it is the one thing that we have which is truly irreplaceable. Because of this, I also believe that what we choose to do with that time is the single most important decision we make every day of our lives.

For our wedding today, we selected an Autumn Harvest theme, and cannot think of anything more appropriate for us. Years ago, we began planting seeds day by day and year by year. We have tended our relationship through fair weather and through darker storms, and with hard work and care, our garden has continued to grow. We have both become the beneficiaries of that harvest, with our love, our lives, our family, and our friends as the bounty.
From the moment that I met you, I have loved you. I love the way you laugh at my jokes, I love the way you cry at sad movies, I love the way you make a home warm and inviting, and I love the way that you always see the best in me.

When you ask someone for their hand in marriage, what you are really asking for and offering in return is the most valuable thing in the world you possess…time. You and I have spent over half of our lives together. There is not enough time in the world to repay you for the happiness you have given me, but I have loved you for 25 years. I love you still, and I will go on loving you until the end of time. This I vow.”

Please share stories and pics of you and your great love(s). Let's flood the page with love.

Let's all keep writing our love stories.

And to Steven...

I love ya, Baby.

❤️Peace Love and Music

10/04/2025

Good luck to all of the bands performing at competitions across the country today!

And now, a blessing:

May the wind only blow during other groups' performances.

May the band couples NOT break up during the day and create factions because, OMG, are we seriously doing this right now?

May the electronics work on the first try. And if they don't, may the judges not notice.

May every freshman remember all parts of their uniforms. Noobs.

May the buses not break down.

🙏Bandmen🙏

Peace Love and Music ☮️❤️🎵 - Randy Standy

10/01/2025

IMPORTANT! If you bought MECHANICAL MONSTERS: MECH THE HALLS, please read for important instructions.

It's never fun to have to admit when a mistake was made, but my parents raised me to own mistakes, fix them, and do better, and so that's what I do. Moreover, I take the satisfaction and happiness of the community that has given me my career very, VERY seriously.

If you have purchased MECHANICAL MONSTERS: MECH THE HALLS, there was a pretty big mistake on the first run of printing, which we just found. In measures 75 and 76, the parts did not match the score (the score is correct by the way). This was pretty much the case in ALL parts on ALL page twos. It's especially frustrating because we're still not sure how it happened. When we recorded the piece, as you can hear on the live recording, it was correct. I think when we made the final typesetting corrections, a keystroke must have accidentally occurred that copied other information into those measures. However it happened, it's a mistake that we need to correct.

If you have purchased a copy that has this error on the parts, you can find the corrected page 2 for all parts as a download on our website. Please navigate to the product page for the piece, look under "Additional Materials", and you can find the PDFs there. I know this is adding extra work for all of my director friends, and all I can do at this point is apologize and hope this quick fix allows you and your students to have a better and less frustrating experience with the piece.

It has been corrected for future printings, and has also been corrected for digital purchase on our website and on Pepper's ePrint service.

To say that I feel dumb is the understatement of the century, but as my folks taught me, all I can do is try to do even better. I'll probably spend the next few days beating myself up about it (thanks, anxiety).

Apologies again folks! And thank you for supporting our company! I hope this helps!

☮️❤️🎵- Randy Standy

09/23/2025

The little kid in me is geeking.

May the force be with you.

Always.

☮️❤️🎵

09/17/2025

Dear Music Educator,

Some kid came into your class today, and you made them smile.

That may not seem like a lot.

But, to some students, it means the whole world.

Keep doing what you're doing.

It's important.

☮️❤️🎵- Randy Standy

09/13/2025

BIG, BIG, BIG News!

I am OVER THE MOON excited and proud to announce that my SYMPHONY NO.1: A GHOST STORY has been awarded 3rd place in the American Prize for Composition.

My music has never placed in a composition competition.

NEVER.

It is especially meaningful to me that this particular work was selected, as I feel it represents the best writing of my career thus far, and touches on themes that are very important to me, such as love, memory, loss, and life.

You have to understand that I had long ago, convinced myself that my music would probably never be recognized in such a capacity. Here are some of the things that have been said to me during the course of my career:

-"There are already too many band composers; you should probably find something else to do." (a band editor at a publishing company)
-"Your music's too commercial to be taken seriously." (a conductor at a well-known music college)
-"Listen to what the current composition darlings are composing. Try to be more like them." (a fellow composer)
-"You're just a flavor of the month." (a middle school director on Facebook)
-"No one will ever play your advanced music." (a band editor at a publishing company).

Needless to say, I have ignored all these barbs but they definitely left their mark. If you crumple up a piece of paper, you can straighten it back out, but it will still carry all of the wrinkles after all.

I want to thank Dr Tom O’Connor and Dr. Tim Crist, my composition professor is at Arkansas State University for their excellent guidance and mentorship as I was becoming a composer.

I also want to thank Dr. Derek Jenkins for agreeing to give me lessons while I was writing the symphony, and allowing me to balance ideas off of him. His input was invaluable in the final form of the piece.

I have also been extremely fortunate to work with several publishing editors who helped guide and refine my style: Walter Cummings, Brian Balmages, Ron Allen, Robert Sheldon, and Joseph Snyder.

Lastly, I want to thank my husband, Steven Cazort. Many of you don’t see it, but behind the scenes, he has made a life for me in which I am able to do what I do. He has been patient, sacrifice so much, and allowed me to be the creative person that I am without judgment and with unconditional love and support. I love you, baby.

I almost feel like this puts a book end on everything. I have been trying to achieve up to this point in my career. So the question is, where do we go from here?

A Symphony No. 2, consortium anyone?

Thank you again to everyone for supporting my music, I want you to know that I never take it for granted, and every time I see any well wishes, messages about my music, or just virtual pets on the back, they make me very, very happy that I decided not to do “something else.”

Peace Love and Music - Randy Standy

09/05/2025

This last commission was a hard one.

I am primarily an instrumental composer, but occasionally I will be hired to write something with lyrics, as was the case in a commission I just finished last week. It is a piece for elementary band and elementary choir, and is a memorial work for a 6th grader who passed away.

With this in mind, I had to make sure that the lyrics were not too esoteric and would be understandable and appropriate for 5th/6th graders.

Being an uncle and having been a teacher, putting memory and grief into words for young ones was emotionally draining.

Here's what I came up with (there aren't many, as there are several sections that feature instruments as well); I did my best.

I REMEMBER YOU:

I remember times you made me laugh so hard, you made me smile.
I remember days, we’d run so fast, and then we’d rest a while.
And I remember you…
And I remember you…

I see you in the stars, I wish on you before I sleep at night.
I hear you on the breeze, your voice, it lifts me up just like a kite.
And I remember you…
And I remember you…

I love you…
I miss you…
And I remember you.

08/26/2025

🎮✨ NEW MUSIC ALERT! ✨🎮

I’m thrilled to share my brand-new Grade .5–.75 piece: PIXELS!
A fun, game-inspired work designed to introduce chromatic notes in a way that actually excites students.

💡 Quick question for you: What’s your favorite video game of all time?
Mine? Portal takes the crown, with Super Mario Odyssey and Elden Ring right behind.

As many of you know, I spent years teaching grades 5–12, and that experience still shapes every piece I write. I think about student progression, keeping them engaged, and tying music to the things they already love—like video games!

Here’s what makes PIXELS special:
🎵 Written within the first 6 notes for accessibility
🎵 Chromatics introduced in “levels,” just like a game:
⭐️ Level 1: Concert Db
⭐️ Level 2: Concert E natural
⭐️ Level 3: Concert Gb/F # (with an optional skip for younger groups!)
🎵 Melodic moments for every instrument
🎵 A ready-made Study Buddy with exercises to support learning (FREE to download on our website!)
🎵 Optional electronic backing track to give it that true video game feel

👉 You’ll find a full recording in the comments, along with a link to our 2025 Reader, where you can try this piece (and others) with your students for free!

My hope is that PIXELS makes chromatics fun, approachable, and inspiring for your students—while giving directors the tools to support them along the way.

Thank you, as always, for your support. It means the world!
☮️❤️🎵
—Randy Standy

08/23/2025

🎻 Want to supercharge your string orchestra program? 🎻

Randall Standridge Music is thrilled to present a brand-new String Orchestra technique book by Katie O'Hara LaBrie, Anne Marie Patterson, and Deborah Baker Monday!

✨ This innovative resource brings fresh, engaging, and practical approaches to finger patterns and fundamentals—designed to help your students grow with confidence and excitement.

💡 Join us for a FREE Webinar!
🗓 Sunday, August 24th
⏰ 4:00pm EST | 3:00pm CST
📍 Meet the authors and discover how this book can make a real impact on your teaching and your students.

👉 Reserve your spot here: https://l.ead.me/bgE8ck

08/22/2025

⭐️What is something you learned in Band/Choir/Orchestra that you still use to this day? ⭐️

Dear New Band/Orchestra/Choir Student...

You just made the best decision of your life.

You don't know it yet, but you have joined an organization that will change your life. It will teach you skills that you can use throughout your life, and it will provide you with friends for a lifetime.

Welcome to Band.

Welcome to Orchestra.

Welcome to Choir.

We are so happy to have you as part of the family!

08/18/2025

FREE Back to School PDF MEGA Pack! Also, NEW FREE PARADE TUNES, CONCERT BAND READERS, DRUMLINE CADENCES, SSB, AND MORE!

If you could use some free materials for your class, give me a high five in the comments (or share your favorite GIF without context) and drop a 👍 or ❤️. For access to the PDFs, fill out the Google form listed in the comments below (I won't be checking the comments for emails).

Having been a director, I know we can never have too many resources to help with student engagement and development. With this in mind, I am proud to present the Handy Dandy Randy Standy Bandy Back to School PDF MEGA Pack. This absolutely 100% FREE resource includes over 500 pages of materials, including:

•FREE Parade Tunes (Holiday and a new patriotic one!)
•FREE Concert Band Readers (try out our band works with your kids for free!)
•FREE Pep Band Music (4 Stand cheers)
•FREE Music Literacy Daily Drills
•FREE Concert Warm-Ups
•FREE Concert Band Pieces (Time Travelers, Mvt. 1, Ele(mental) Movement 1)
•FREE Holiday Solo and Ensemble Sheets (Christmas and Hanukkah)
•FREE Star Spangled Banner Arrangement
•FREE Yay-Tudes (9 volumes of melodic material)
•FREE 3 Drumline Cadence (Kick it!, RRR, and Mean Muggin')
•FREE Practice Sheet/Guide

In addition to this, we are including a set of FREE daily literacy drills, the first set of which is available NOW! Please use these sheets to reinforce literacy every day (more resources for this coming soon).

All of this is just our way of saying thank you for continuing to support our growing company. We could not do this without you, and we look forward to bringing you quality music from a wide variety of diverse composers for many years to come.

Have a great year, and if we can ever be of service, please reach out!

Again, Fill out the Google form to receive the link to the PDFs (I will NOT be checking the comments for emails).

Peace Love and Music ☮️❤️🎵 - Randall

08/14/2025

I don't know who needs to hear this, but...

Last year's band or orchestra is gone, and it will never exist again.

The group in front of you this year, while made up of some of the same players, is brand new.

Brand new personality dynamics, brand new abilities, brand new everything.

Be sure you treat it as such, and do not beat yourself up about this year's group not being like "last year's group.'

Get to know and appreciate this new group for who they are now.

You’re gonna love them. ❤️

Have a great year!

Peace Love and Music - Randy Standy

Randall D. Standridge, Composer/Marching Arts Designer

10/06/2025

10/04/2025

10/01/2025

09/23/2025

09/17/2025

09/13/2025

09/05/2025

08/26/2025

08/23/2025

08/22/2025

08/18/2025

08/14/2025

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