Act Your Age: Piano Accompaniment
By Gordon Goodwin / arr. Peter Blair
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0017166_K
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Description
This hot Gordon Goodwin chart is now for the younger player. Slick and funky describes this very accessible arrangement. There are written solos for 1st alto (cued for 2nd alto) and a 1st trumpet solo cued in all four trumpet parts. Lead trumpet has a written A above the staff, but technically this chart is not difficult and will come together quickly to earn a spot in your program. (3:40) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Act Your Age: Piano Accompaniment comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
94
SKU:
00-PC-0017166_K
More about this title
About the Composer: Gordon Goodwin
Gordon Goodwin demonstrated compositional fluency from childhood, writing complete arrangements in his head by age five and crafting his first big band chart at thirteen. His gifts for orchestration caught the attention of film and television producers, earning him three Emmy Awards and multiple Grammy nominations for work on soundtracks including Bad Boys II, Con Air, Remember the Titans, and Star Trek: Nemesis. He has also arranged and performed alongside major artists such as Christina Aguilera, Quincy Jones, and Ray Charles.
Goodwin channels his decades of studio and performance experience as the bandleader of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, a Los Angeles-based ensemble he founded in 2000. The band's recordings have pushed the boundaries of jazz ensemble production, with their debut earning Grammy recognition as the first commercially available DVD Audio release. His work bridges the worlds of cinematic composition, big band performance, and educational jazz writing.
Why we love this
Goodwin's arrangement captures everything that makes modern jazz ensemble writing exciting without demanding virtuosity beyond Grade 2 reach. The written solos for alto and trumpet (with cues provided) give students the chance to stretch without stalling rehearsal progress, and the chart's slick, funky character means it sounds polished from relatively early on in preparation.
What to expect
Act Your Age grooves with contemporary funk sensibility and a polished, radio-ready energy. The chart breathes with confident swagger, balancing slick horn section writing against a driving rhythm foundation that makes students feel like they're part of something genuinely current.
Who it's for
This arrangement fits intermediate jazz ensembles and younger players eager to program contemporary big band writing without tackling extreme range or rhythmic complexity. It works equally well for high school jazz groups building repertoire quickly and middle school ensembles ready to move beyond beginner-level material.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the funky groove against the ensemble sections; the rhythm section should sit in the pocket without rushing the backbeat.
- Encourage the alto soloist to listen to the recorded version to internalize the phrasing and articulation style before finalizing their interpretation.
- Keep the lead trumpet's high A in context; it's a moment of brightness rather than a technical showcase, so support it with warm harmonic voicing from the rest of the section.
- Use the 3:40 duration as your rehearsal target; if the piece drags beyond that, tighten the tempo slightly in the ensemble hits.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a jazz ensemble concert where you want immediate impact and audience appeal. Its accessible difficulty and strong musical character make it an ideal choice for mid-year programming, allowing rehearsal time to be spent on interpretation and ensemble balance rather than technical fundamentals.
Skills your students will build
- Stylistic phrasing in contemporary jazz contexts
- Solo performance with comping rhythm section support
- Ensemble balance in funk-based orchestration
- Reading lead sheets and cued instrumental parts
- Interpreting dynamic and articulation markings in a cohesive ensemble sound