All Star: HybridNOW Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Michael Story's arrangement captures everything that makes the original irresistible while staying firmly within the technical reach of Grade 2.5 ensembles. The percussion 1 part's flexibility to accommodate either traditional band instruments or drumset setup gives directors real options in how they staff the piece, making it genuinely adaptable to different program configurations.

Bright, energetic, and immediately familiar. The melody sits high and sunny, supported by a steady groove that students recognize from countless movie moments and radio plays. It's the kind of piece that gets genuine enthusiasm in the band room.

Concert bands at the middle school and early high school level who want repertoire their students will actually want to play. This is also ideal for programs looking to program a pop arrangement that doesn't sacrifice musicianship or feel like a novelty.

• Keep the rhythmic pulse driving and consistent in the early sections; students often rush pop grooves when they're unfamiliar with the style, so anchor the tempo work early in rehearsal.
• Balance the vocal melody line so it sits front and center without overwhelming the harmonic support. This isn't a thick orchestral texture, so clarity matters more than fullness.
• If using the drumset option, have that performer lock in with the bass line and low woodwind foundation before bringing in the full ensemble; the groove only works when the bottom feels locked.

Place this early in a concert program to capture student and audience energy right away, or use it as a closer on a lighter concert theme. It also works well as a unit in a pop/contemporary music concert pairing with other Story arrangements or similar-level film music.

• Playing with a steady, driving pulse in a pop/rock style
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a non-traditional harmonic texture
• Reading and executing syncopated rhythmic figures
• Coordinating rhythm section parts (if using traditional percussion)
• Flexibility between concert band and small ensemble voicings