Baby: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Relaxed and contemporary. The light shuffle rhythm gives the piece a sophisticated, almost jazz-inflected feel while remaining entirely accessible. It sounds like a professional ensemble playing something they actually enjoy, not a textbook exercise.

Grade 2 bands looking for a ballad that works as a feature vehicle without stranding a soloist. Your alto sax or trumpet section gets a real moment to shine while the rest of the band has straightforward, supportive parts that build musicianship without demanding advanced technique.

• Lock the shuffle feel early in sectionals. The rhythm section needs to settle into the pocket before soloists layer in, or the light character will feel rushed.
• Balance the introduction carefully. Flute, oboe, and trumpet lines weave together, so mark your score to show which voice carries the melody at each moment.
• Give your soloist freedom to phrase the AABA chorus expressively. This is a ballad, not a march, so encourage rubato within the groove.
• The coda spotlight repeats the flute, oboe, and trumpet writing from the intro. This is your chance to show how much cleaner and more confident the band sounds at the end compared to the opening.

Program this as a concert opener or a contrasting piece between marches and heavier ballads. The sophisticated groove and feature structure also make it effective on spring concerts or student showcase programs where you want to highlight individual players.

• Playing and maintaining a light shuffle rhythm in 4/4 time
• Blending woodwind and brass timbres in a compact melody
• Supporting and balancing a solo voice while staying rhythmically locked
• Phrasing expressively within a groove-based context
• Reading and executing AABA form and coda structures