Animal: Marching Band Conductor Score

Infectious and propulsive. The arrangement keeps moving forward with a dance-rock pulse that pulls everyone into the groove. It's the kind of piece that gets stuck in students' heads and makes them want to perform it again and again.

Directors working with developing marching bands who want contemporary repertoire that engages students without overwhelming them technically. The Grade 2 level makes it suitable for middle school through early high school ensembles or recreational bands looking to add current, recognizable music to their programs.

• Lock the articulation across all sections during the syncopated figures. Consistent tonguing and note attack make the difference between a sloppy groove and one that really locks.
• Bring out the bass line; it's the heartbeat of the arrangement. Make sure low brass and low woodwinds are heard as a cohesive unit beneath the melody.
• Keep the tempo steady and resist the urge to rush during the dance-rock sections. A metronome or click track during sectional rehearsals will cement the feel.
• Shape the dynamic curves rather than playing everything at volume. The tune has moments that need to breathe; let contrast build the intensity.

Place this in a spring concert where you want to shift the energy and give audiences something they recognize and can enjoy immediately. It pairs well with a mix of traditional and contemporary repertoire, bridging the gap between students' musical world and the concert setting.

• Maintaining steady tempo in syncopated, dance-rock contexts
• Balancing ensemble articulation and rhythmic precision
• Reading and executing contemporary pop-rock arranging conventions
• Supporting and listening to the bass line as the rhythmic foundation