A Rockin' Halloween: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Story's arrangement choices here are shrewd: he's selected three songs that students actually know and care about, which means your band will be genuinely invested in nailing the parts rather than pushing through unfamiliar material. The rock idiom gives your early young band a chance to explore contemporary sounds and rhythmic energy in a concert setting, and the Halloween theme makes this ideal for fall recruiting when you need pieces that draw smiles rather than groans from an audience.

A medley that bounces along with good humor and accessible rock grooves. The three songs create a journey from the synth-pop catchiness of Ghostbusters through the classic rock shuffle of Werewolves in London to the playful Saturday morning cartoon energy of Scooby Doo, all held together by Story's sure hand with arranging for limited ranges and straightforward voicing.

Young concert bands in grades 2-4 who are still building fundamental skills but ready to step beyond basic educational arrangements. This works equally well for your fall recruiting concert or a Halloween-themed performance where you want music that appeals to student musicians and audience members alike.

• Lock in the rhythmic groove by having the rhythm section (percussion, low brass, and lower reeds) establish the rock pulse together before adding melody lines. These songs live or die by their pocket.
• Balance the familiar melodies so they cut through clearly. Younger players often bury a theme by adding too much dynamic weight to supporting harmonies.
• Embrace the energy. Grade 2 arrangements often err toward over-polish at the expense of attitude. Rock music at this level should feel confident and fun, not tentative.
• Give yourself space during rehearsals to work on the transitions between tunes. Moving cleanly from one song to the next keeps the medley feeling intentional rather than like a collection of separate pieces.

Anchor a fall concert around this piece, whether that concert is for recruiting incoming middle school students or celebrating Halloween in late October. The medley format gives you a substantial musical moment without requiring your young band to sustain concentration through a lengthy single work, and the three-song structure creates natural applause moments that help pace a concert.

• Reading and executing rock rhythms and syncopation
• Balancing melody and harmony in an ensemble texture
• Responding to style-specific articulation and phrasing cues
• Maintaining rhythmic precision as part of a groove-based ensemble
• Managing range and endurance across a three-song medley