Cheap Thrills: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Michael Brown captures the reggae pocket that makes this track irresistible while keeping the voicing clean enough for a Grade 3-4 marching ensemble to execute with precision. The arrangement maintains the original's rhythmic drive without sacrificing the stability your students need to march and play simultaneously.

Relaxed yet propulsive. The reggae skeleton keeps everything moving with an easy swing, while the pop sheen and memorable melody create immediate audience recognition. There's a lightness here that contrasts nicely with more traditional marching fare.

Marching programs looking to connect with contemporary repertoire without compromising musicianship. This works well for ensembles with developing rhythm sections and intermediate to advancing brass and woodwind players who can handle the pop idiom's demands.

• Establish the reggae feel in early rehearsals by having your ensemble lock into the offbeat subdivision before adding articulation or dynamics. This groove sits under everything.
• Balance the bass line and mid-range parts; they carry equal weight in this arrangement. Underscore this during sectionals so the full sound doesn't collapse when the melody enters.
• Find the sweet spot between energy and control during marching passages. The song's infectious character can push tempo faster than written; use a click track to maintain your intended pace across multiple repetitions.
• Let the melody breathe. Sia's original sits in a conversational space, not a shouted one. Coach your lead parts toward clarity rather than volume.

Slot this into a contemporary showcase or field show focused on hits from the last decade. Its Grade 3-4 accessibility makes it a solid centerpiece for programs mixing classic and modern material without skewing too far in either direction.

• Reading and executing offbeat rhythmic patterns typical of reggae and contemporary pop
• Maintaining tempo consistency across marching and stationary sections
• Balancing ensemble voices in a groove-based harmonic context
• Coordinating melodic phrasing with rhythmic precision