25 or 6 to 4: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Michael Story's arrangement captures the infectious drive and horn layering that made the original such a radio staple, but reimagines it for Grade 1 musicians without losing the song's instant recognizability. Your beginners will feel like they're playing something genuinely cool and current (in spirit), which matters enormously for engagement and motivation. The orchestration gives every section a moment to shine while keeping technical demands accessible.

Confident and propulsive. The arrangement captures the song's signature horn riffs and driving beat, creating an immediate sense of purpose and forward motion. Even simplified, it has swagger and groove; students feel like they're part of something exciting rather than just playing an exercise.

Beginning concert bands that want to program a well-known tune that audiences will recognize and enjoy. This works equally well for a winter concert, spring pops show, or any context where you need energy and accessibility without sacrificing musicianship.

• Lock the rhythm section (percussion, bass, and lower brass) onto the original recording's groove before rehearsing with the full band. The pocket of this song is everything; once that's solid, the soloists and upper voices lock in naturally.
• Balance the horn section carefully during the unison and harmonized passages. This arrangement relies on blend rather than individual voices punching through, so blend rehearsal pays dividends quickly.
• Keep the energy consistent from the top through any repeats. This is a song built on forward momentum; even in a Grade 1 arrangement, drooping the tempo or pulling back dynamically will flatten the impact.
• Mark breathing points for wind players before the first rehearsal. At this level, giving students clear cues about where to breathe prevents awkward cutoffs and keeps phrases connected.

Pair this with other pop or rock selections to build a contemporary music segment, or slot it into a concert where you're balancing classical and accessible repertoire. It works especially well as an opener or closer because the song's cultural footprint does much of the narrative work for you.

• Playing syncopated rhythms in a rock/pop context
• Maintaining steady tempo and groove against static harmonic backgrounds
• Balancing and blending within horn sections
• Reading and executing unison and simple harmony parts
• Responding to conductor cues for energy and articulation control