Concerto for Faculty and Band: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Programming a moment of genuine levity into a concert can strengthen audience connection to your entire performance, and this piece does exactly that by turning non-musicians into featured soloists. The humor lands because it's musically sound; Ployhar's orchestration keeps the band's part engaging and supportive rather than mocking. It's a rare piece that builds goodwill between faculty and students while delivering real entertainment.

A moment of shared humor and camaraderie. The band provides rhythmic verve and melody while faculty percussion soloists take turns in the spotlight, creating an atmosphere of playful collaboration that reminds audiences why music programs matter to the whole school community.

Band directors looking for a program piece that connects faculty to the student experience and gives the audience a memorable break in the concert. It works for ensembles of mixed ability levels because the Grade 2 difficulty sits well below most advanced high school bands, allowing focus on ensemble balance and character rather than technical demand.

• Recruit faculty soloists early and schedule a rehearsal specifically for their percussion parts; even brief, lighthearted practice prevents awkward moments and keeps the musicians genuinely involved rather than self-conscious.
• Balance the band's accompaniment so the faculty soloists are heard clearly without the ensemble overwhelming them; Grade 2 voicings are transparent, but attention to dynamic control in rehearsal makes the contrast between the soloist's entrance and the band's response decisive.
• Establish clear visual cues with your soloists before performance; Ployhar's score includes ensemble breaks that create natural pauses for the non-musician performer to collect themselves.

Place this early in your concert when energy and goodwill are building, or use it strategically after a demanding classical work to give your audience a chance to breathe and laugh. The piece is short enough to fit into virtually any program and substantial enough (96 pages of score and parts) to feel like a genuine concert contribution rather than a novelty.

• Ensemble balance and dynamic control in supporting a featured soloist
• Rhythmic precision and entrances in Grade 2 voicings
• Attention to conductor cues and sudden tempo or texture changes
• Collaborative mindset and ensemble leadership through accompaniment