'60s Rock Mix: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Pure, unbridled fun. The medley bounces from one instantly recognizable hook to the next with enough rock attitude to make every student feel cool playing it. There's an almost infectious defiance in these arrangements, as if the band is saying 'we know this doesn't belong in a concert hall, and we're doing it anyway.'

Concert bands working at Grade 2 level who want a high-energy closer that engages both the students and any parents in the audience. This works especially well if you're looking to bridge the gap between classical concert traditions and the popular music your students actually listen to.

• Lock the rhythm section first. The driving rock style depends entirely on the drums and low brass committing to a consistent pocket; once that's solid, the horns sit much more naturally on top of the arrangement.
• Bring out the familiar riffs early in rehearsal. Your students already know these melodies, so lean into that recognition and let them hear which parts carry the iconic hooks each song is built on.
• Keep the tempo steady but don't let it drag. The 3:45 duration moves quickly, and rushing slightly is far better than sagging; a metronome during sectionals prevents the rock feel from becoming muddy.
• Balance the ensemble around the lead voice. Whether it's the trumpet carrying a melody or the saxes playing a riff, make sure accompanying parts sit underneath rather than compete.

Save this for the second half of your spring concert when the audience is warmed up and ready to enjoy themselves. It pairs beautifully after a classical work or a standard wind band piece, offering a palette cleanser that reminds everyone why these songs have lasted six decades.

• Rhythmic precision in a rock/pop idiom
• Balancing melody against steady accompaniment patterns
• Sustaining consistent tempo and groove across multiple sections
• Executing syncopated rhythms with confidence
• Responding to stylistic cues that differ from traditional concert band repertoire