Dance Monkey: Recorder Solo

This arrangement captures the song's infectious energy and memorable hook in a format that lets recorder students perform something genuinely contemporary. The two-page length keeps it manageable while the pop idiom draws in students who might not otherwise gravitate toward concert music.

Playful and propulsive. The piece has the lightweight, bouncing character of the original recording, with a melody that stays with you. There's an infectious quality that makes students want to play it again.

Recorder classes and ensembles looking to connect with middle or high school students through repertoire they know and enjoy. This works especially well when you want to build confidence in students who are newer to reading music or playing an ensemble part.

• Pay attention to the rhythmic placement of the melody; the hook sits slightly differently than students might expect, and locking that timing in is what makes the song recognizable.
• Articulation matters here. Crisp, light tonguing on the characteristic repeated notes keeps the piece bouncy rather than sluggish.
• Balance ensemble sound by having students find the pulse in their bodies first, then listen across the group to lock it in together.

Feature this in a casual concert setting, pops concert, or as a palate cleanser between more formal selections. It also works as a morale booster during rehearsals or as an incentive piece when introducing more challenging classical repertoire.

• Reading pop melodies in standard notation
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures
• Ensemble blend and balance in contemporary music
• Articulation control for bright, energetic playing