Brick House: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

Students hear this song everywhere and immediately recognize its swagger and infectious energy. The lead sheet captures that iconic groove in a format that keyboard players can actually use to build their own interpretation, whether they're soloing with a rhythm section or accompanying a vocalist. It's the kind of repertoire that makes kids want to practice.

Confident, propulsive, and unapologetically funky. The groove sits heavy but never feels sluggish; instead it pulls the listener forward with a blend of orchestrated precision and live swagger. There's an elegance to the arrangement even as it commands the dance floor.

Keyboard students and singers who want to develop their comping and soloing skills over a groove that actually feels good to play. Directors looking to add contemporary repertoire that engages students without sacrificing musicianship. Any ensemble interested in exploring the intersection of soul, funk, and popular music.

• Lock into the syncopation of the rhythm section early. This groove lives in the pocket between the beat, not on top of it.
• Color the chord extensions and alterations to match the original's keyboard texture. The funk comes from how you voice those changes, not just what notes you play.
• Keep your left hand light and conversational with the bass line rather than doubling it. Space creates the funk.

Feature this in a jazz or contemporary ensemble concert alongside other Commodores arrangements to build a thematic block around funk and soul standards. Keyboard students can use it for solo performance or as a scaffolding piece before tackling more complex contemporary repertoire. A vocal jazz ensemble might pair it with a capella counterpoint work to show range across styles within a single rehearsal set.

• Comping over a funk groove in a consistent pocket
• Recognizing and performing syncopated rhythmic patterns
• Voicing seventh and extended chords in a contemporary style
• Balancing melody, harmony, and rhythm when soloing
• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation