Dem Bones: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

Dem Bones: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Dem Bones: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-30751
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Featuring the Trombone Section

Music by James Weldon Johnson / arr. Michael Story

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-30751

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The tune is a traditional African-American spiritual, but your trombones will adore the chance to demonstrate the glissando. Also known by the name "Dry Bones" this arrangement is sure to tickle your funny bone as well.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Dem Bones: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Belwin Beginning Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 138

UPC: 038081351421

SKU: 00-30751

More about this title

About the Composer: James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was a multifaceted artist who shaped American culture as a poet, songwriter, diplomat, and civil rights advocate. His collection "God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse" became a cornerstone of African-American literary tradition, and his role in preserving and elevating Negro spirituals helped establish their place in concert music and American musical canon.

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Why we love this

Michael Story's arrangement captures the infectious energy of this spiritual while making it genuinely fun to conduct and play. The featured trombone glissandos give younger students a memorable moment to shine, and the Grade 1 scoring never talks down to the ensemble, even as it keeps technical demands accessible.

What to expect

Playful and spirited, with an undercurrent of the spiritual's original dignity. The glissandos add humor and surprise, while the straightforward harmony and melody keep the focus on joy and musicality rather than technical struggle.

Who it's for

Beginning concert bands seeking repertoire that is genuinely engaging for young musicians without sacrificing musical substance. Directors want to program spirituals authentically, and this arrangement honors the tradition while giving every section something rewarding to play.

How to get the most out of it

Encourage your trombones to lean into the glissandos with confidence and clarity; this is their moment to show personality, so avoid over-correcting intonation on slides that are meant to be expressive.
Keep the tempo steady and cheerful without rushing; the spiritual's character emerges from a relaxed pulse, not frantic energy.
Balance the ensemble so the melodic lines sing through, especially when the trombone section takes the feature passages.
Let the humor breathe; this arrangement has lightness built into it, and over-rehearsing sections robs the piece of its natural charm.

How to use it

Program this early in the season when your band is still building confidence; its accessibility and fun factor boost morale and showcase what young musicians can accomplish. It also pairs beautifully with other spirituals or American folk material in a concert exploring roots music traditions.