Grade 3 Jazz Ensemble Sheet Music

The Chicken by Alfred James Ellis and You Better Sleigh! by JaRod Hall are the most widely adopted titles in this collection. Wise Up by Gordon Goodwin and Work Song by Nat Adderley round out the consistent favorites. Teachers choose these pieces for their strong melodic lines, clear section writing, and the fact that students actually want to play them.

Recent additions include Salsa on the Side by Mike Pendowski, Can't Go Wrong by Ken Mattis, and Moving On by Rachel Steckler, all published in early 2026.

Dave Wolpe has been composing and arranging since 1965, with credits including dozens of arrangements for the Glenn Miller Orchestra and co-arranger work on the platinum CD In the Christmas Mood. His 99 titles in this collection represent decades of practical experience writing for working ensembles.

Gordon Goodwin began composing full arrangements at age five and wrote his first big band chart at thirteen. His natural gift for structure and melody shows in titles like Wise Up, which has become a classroom favorite. His work in television and film composition informs his ability to write charts with clear dramatic arc.

Kris Berg directs jazz studies at Collin County Community College and holds degrees in jazz studies from the University of North Texas. Under his direction, Collin's jazz ensembles have earned multiple invitations to Montreux, and his charts have been performed worldwide. Berg founded both the Collin Jazz Fest and the Texas All-Star Jazz Camp, bringing a pedagogical mindset to every arrangement he creates.

Erik Morales brings a distinctive melodic and harmonic approach across 150-plus publications spanning classical, jazz, and commercial genres. His work for jazz ensembles reflects a composer who understands how to balance accessibility with musical substance, making his pieces valuable both in rehearsal and on stage.