Fantasticks: Concert Band Conductor Score

Fagan understands percussion sections from the conductor's stand and the drummer's stool, and it shows in this piece. Rather than relegating your six percussionists to a decorative role, he puts them front and center with genuinely interesting material that rewards careful musicianship. The Grade 2 accessibility means younger ensembles can pull off a feature that feels professional and polished on a concert program.

Fantasticks sparkles with accessible energy and color. The piece balances straightforward wind writing with percussion passages that feel inventive and celebratory, creating a concert opener that sets a positive tone without overshadowing the rest of your program.

Band directors with established percussion sections who want to honor those players' dedication with real featured material. This works equally well for concert-focused ensembles and groups preparing for festival competition, since the writing is sophisticated enough to impress adjudicators while remaining playable for Grade 2 bands.

• Plan rehearsal time to balance band and percussion development equally; the six percussion parts demand as much attention as the wind sections, especially in passages where they carry the melodic or rhythmic foundation.
• Have percussionists map out their instrument changes in advance so transitions remain seamless and the momentum of the piece stays intact.
• Consider a light, confident approach to tempo to let the variety of percussion colors shine without rushing or dragging.
• Balance the percussion dynamic envelope carefully; clarity matters more than volume at this grade level, so crisp articulation trumps power.

Open your next concert with this piece to establish forward momentum and give your audience an immediate sense of the full ensemble sound and personality. It pairs well with more substantial concert fare later in the program and gives your percussion players a moment of earned recognition early in the evening.

• Coordination of multiple percussion instruments within a cohesive ensemble texture
• Rhythmic clarity and precision in supporting and leading the band's forward motion
• Dynamic control and instrumental articulation across the percussion section
• Awareness of individual voice importance within an ensemble context