All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

A beach party crashed a Christmas concert. The familiar melody bounces along on Latin percussion grooves while the band plays with infectious energy and obvious good humor. There's nothing precious about it; the tongue-in-cheek spirit invites your students to enjoy themselves while playing.

Beginning and early intermediate concert bands looking for repertoire that builds fundamentals while keeping students genuinely entertained. This works equally well for Grade 1 players experiencing their first holiday concert or as a palate-cleansing opener on a larger program.

• Balance the Latin rhythm section carefully so the clave and tumbao patterns remain clear without overwhelming the melody. Young percussionists often play these patterns too loudly, which muddies the arrangement's groove.
• Keep the tempo steady and playful. This piece works best when the band commits to the Latin feel rather than playing it straight. A metronome or recorded accompaniment will help younger players lock into the rhythm.
• Encourage your woodwinds to articulate lightly on the syncopated passages. This maintains the brightness of the arrangement and lets the humorous character shine through.

Open a winter concert with this to set a celebratory tone, or place it between more formal selections to give your audience a breather. It pairs well on the same program as traditional carols or more serious holiday fare, offering stylistic contrast without feeling out of place.

• Reading and executing Latin rhythmic patterns (clave, tumbao)
• Maintaining steady tempo and ensemble cohesion in syncopated contexts
• Balancing percussion parts to support rather than overshadow the melody
• Playing with stylistic accuracy in a non-traditional harmonic setting