Dance to the Music: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Sylvester Stewart / As performed by Sly And The Family Stone / Arranged by Paul Murtha
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK00408002
$40.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Dance to the Music - Conductor Score (Full Score) | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Alto Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Alto Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Tenor Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Tenor Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trumpet 3 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trumpet 4 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trombone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trombone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trombone 3 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Trombone 4 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Guitar | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Drums | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Aux Percussion | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Flute | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Clarinet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Clarinet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - F Horn | $6.00 | |
| Dance to the Music - Tuba | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This infectious pop and funk hit from 1968 was originally recorded by Sly and the Family Stone. Paul Murtha's version for young players features a fun groove and active parts for all sections. The solo section can be opened up, however, sample solos are provided for alto sax, trumpet, and trombone. An entertaining blast from the past.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00408002
More about this title
About the Artist: Sylvester Stewart
Sylvester Stewart, known professionally as Sly Stone, shaped funk and soul music in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his genre-defying approach to composition and arrangement. As the bandleader of Sly and the Family Stone, he created music that fused funk grooves with pop accessibility, breaking racial and stylistic barriers in popular music.
For music educators, Sly Stone's legacy matters because his work demonstrates how groove-based music can be both sophisticated and immediately engaging. His emphasis on rhythmic precision, call-and-response textures, and horn section interplay offers young musicians a gateway into understanding funk and soul as serious compositional and performance practices.
Why we love this
Paul Murtha's arrangement captures the irresistible momentum of the original without oversimplifying it. Every section has something interesting to play, and the ability to expand or contract the solo section gives you real programming flexibility depending on your ensemble's strengths and your concert goals.
What to expect
Pure joy wrapped in a funk groove. The energy builds from the opening, and the arrangement keeps the forward momentum alive through every section, making rehearsal feel like a party and performances feel like a celebration rather than a concert obligation.
Who it's for
Bands ready to tackle funk and soul as a serious genre, not just a novelty. This works beautifully for ensembles in grades 4 and up, and it's energizing enough to engage middle schoolers without talking down to high school groups.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the groove first, before worrying about individual voice independence. This arrangement lives and dies by rhythmic cohesion, so spend rehearsal time on the backbeat and the relationship between rhythm section and horns.
- Approach the sample solos as models, not requirements. If you have players ready to improvise, these written solos serve as training wheels and inspiration rather than limitations.
- Balance the horns so the melody cuts through the rhythm section without overwhelming it. The joy of this piece is hearing all the layers work together, not one section dominating.
How to use it
Use this as a change-of-pace closer on a concert mixing classical and contemporary work. It's also ideal for pep rallies, spring concerts, or any program where you want to remind people why your students love playing music. The accessibility of the original makes it a crowd favorite that doesn't require your audience to have any jazz experience.
Skills your students will build
- Playing with a consistent groove and understanding backbeat independence
- Balancing harmonic textures in a funk/soul arrangement
- Reading and executing syncopated rhythms across all sections
- Developing improvisational confidence through structured solo sections
- Listening across the ensemble to maintain rhythmic and harmonic cohesion