Cool Kids: 2nd Percussion

This arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while remaining entirely playable at Grade 2. Patrick Roszell has distributed the melodic and rhythmic interest across your ensemble so that every section stays engaged, and the chart feels contemporary without requiring specialized techniques or unusual instrumentation. Programming a current chart that resonates with your students (and their families) sends a clear signal that band music includes the songs they actually listen to.

Bright, propulsive, and unmistakably modern. The chart captures the optimistic indie-pop spirit of the original track without losing the groove that made it a chart climber. Students will feel like they're playing something current and real, not a simplified re-imagining.

Grade 2 concert band students ready to explore contemporary pop music in an educational context. The arrangement works for bands with mixed experience levels because the parts scale well whether you're double-covering lines or assigning solos to your strongest players.

• Keep the groove consistent throughout. The rhythm section drives this tune, so lock the kick pattern and snare cracks early in rehearsal, then layer the rest of the band around that foundation.
• Shape the melody with the same intention as the recording. The pop vocal inflection in Echosmith's original voice should translate to how your woodwinds and brass phrase; avoid making it sound overly formal or classical.
• Balance the texture across sections. With 134 pages of parts, you'll have multiple players on each line. Blend rather than stack, so individual voices stay clear within the overall sound.
• Emphasize the rhythmic precision on syncopated figures. Grade 2 students often rush syncopation; slow down the tricky sections in early rehearsals and use a metronome to build confidence.

Feature this early in a spring concert where you're programming a mix of classics and contemporary hits. It pairs well with other pop arrangements or contemporary works if you're building a "music students actually listen to" set. Alternatively, use it to energize a winter concert closer if you need a feel-good final number.

• Maintaining a consistent groove and understanding pop rhythm section roles
• Phrasing and articulation in contemporary idiom
• Balance and blend within a dense, multi-part texture
• Interpreting syncopated rhythms with accuracy and style