Believe (from The Polar Express): Tuba

Story's arrangement of "Believe" captures the emotional warmth of the original while staying within the technical reach of Grade 1 bands. The orchestration gives every section meaningful material, and at just over two minutes, it fits naturally into winter concerts without consuming valuable rehearsal time. This is the kind of accessible arrangement that reminds students why they play.

"Believe" unfolds as a gentle, affirming ballad with a warmth that transcends its holiday origins. The melody carries a reflective quality, supported by flowing accompaniment that creates space for the tune to resonate rather than compete for attention.

Concert bands at the Grade 1 level will find this arrangement perfectly suited to their developing ensemble skills. Beginning and intermediate programs seeking a genuine musical statement that requires minimal technical demands will appreciate both the ease of execution and the emotional payoff.

• Shape the melody with gentle dynamic swells rather than maintaining a rigid mezzo-forte; let the phrase breathe and rise naturally to its peaks.
• Balance the woodwind and brass lines carefully in the opening, treating the accompaniment as a foundation rather than a competing voice.
• Work the ensemble toward a unified tone quality across all sections, since the piece's beauty depends on blend more than virtuosity.

Program this as a center point in a winter concert, pairing it with livelier seasonal selections to showcase your ensemble's range. It also works beautifully as an opening piece that sets a welcoming, accessible tone early in a concert program, or as a bridge between contrasting musical styles.

• Sustained melodic phrasing over accompaniment figures
• Dynamic shaping and breath control within a slow ballad
• Ensemble balance and blend in four-part harmony
• Reading simple, singable lines with clear notation