Cold-Hearted (Featured in Drumline Live): Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Sleek and propulsive, with the kind of attitude that made 1989 pop unforgettable. The arrangement channels the original's confident edge while giving marching musicians a physical, rhythmically intricate part to sink their teeth into.

Grade 4-5 marching bands ready to tackle contemporary pop with serious musicianship demands. This works best for programs that want to engage students with recognizable repertoire while maintaining performance excellence.

• Lock the groove with your battery and front ensemble first. The syncopated rhythms under the melody are what make this arrangement breathe.
• Balance the horn line so it sits above the accompaniment without overshadowing the melodic hook. Paula Abdul's original thrives on that pop sensibility.
• Keep the energy intentional during sparse sections. Silence and space are as important as the busy passages to maintain the "edgy" character the chart describes.
• Drill the transition between chorale and dance sections separately. The shift in feel will feel abrupt without careful rehearsal of the full context.

Pair this with other pop or contemporary selections to round out a show that speaks to your audience without sacrificing musicianship. It's equally effective as a opener that signals you're taking modern music seriously, or as a second act highlight that shifts the energy of your program.

• Syncopated rhythm reading in pop idioms
• Balancing exposed melodic lines over accompaniment
• Maintaining groove consistency across multiple sections
• Articulation clarity in fast passages
• Dynamic control in both sparse and full textures