Fun and Games: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Mike Story's arrangement strips away unnecessary complexity while preserving the song's infectious charm. The unison sections build ensemble cohesion, the written solos are genuinely playable at this level, and the optional parts mean you can perform it with whatever instrumentation walks through your door on rehearsal day.

Breezy and uplifting, with a medium swing groove that feels accessible rather than forced. The unison passages have a sense of unity and fun, while the written solos invite individual voices to step forward without demanding technical heroics.

Young jazz ensembles (Grade 2 level) looking for charts that develop musicianship without overwhelming developing players. This works equally well for students encountering jazz idiom for the first time and for groups building confidence in swing feel and section playing.

• Lock the swing feel early in rehearsals by having the rhythm section nail the comping pattern before layering melodies on top.
• Give soloists room to breathe during their written passages; these are scoring opportunities, not just notes to get through.
• Balance the unison sections so they sit in one collective sound rather than individual parts stacked on top of each other.
• Use the optional parts strategically in performance to match your ensemble's strength; doubling horns can smooth thin sections without adding charts.

Pair this with other First Year Charts selections to build a complete jazz concert that showcases developing ensemble sound. It works especially well as a mid-set piece where audiences recognize the lighter energy and the musicians can visibly relax into the groove.

• Swing feel and comping vocabulary
• Reading and executing written jazz solos
• Balancing individual voice within ensemble unison
• Adapting to optional instrumentation in performance
• Sectional awareness (trumpet, trombone, saxophone blending)