Funky Penguins: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Funky Penguins: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Funky Penguins: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49968
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mike Collins-Dowden

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-49968

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Funky Penguins by Mike Collins-Dowden will bring some Antarctic fun to your next concert! An ice-cold bass line supports a bluesy melody with lots of slip-sliding slurs; all backed up by the percussion section playing a funky rock beat. Your audience will tap their flippers while waddling in the aisles! (2:10)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Funky Penguins: 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: Developing Band Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-5846-1

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5846-5

UPC: 038081576022

SKU: 00-49968

More about this title

About the Composer: Mike Collins-Dowden

Mike Collins-Dowden has directed band at Pleasant Ridge School in Glenview, Illinois, since 2007, where he works with 4th and 5th graders. He studied music education and trombone performance at the Eastman School of Music (B.M., 2003) and later earned his M.M. in music education from Temple University in 2007. During his time at Eastman, he performed with the Wind Ensemble on their 2004 Japan tour.

Collins-Dowden is a prolific composer for young bands and jazz ensembles, drawing directly from his classroom experience. He has published over 30 compositions with Alfred/Belwin, FJH, and Jalen Music. Beyond composing and teaching, he performs on trombone and guitar, and has even experimented with music programming on a Nintendo Game Boy.

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Why we love this

Collins-Dowden knows exactly what works with developing band students because he writes for them every day. The combination of a funky rock groove, bluesy melody, and novelty humor keeps young musicians engaged while the modest grade level (1.5) means your entire section can participate fully without getting bogged down in technical difficulty. At just over two minutes, it's the perfect palate cleanser on a concert or festival program.

What to expect

Playful and swinging, with a blues attitude wrapped in Antarctic charm. The funky rock beat and ice-cold bass line create a groove that makes you want to move; the bluesy melody sits effortlessly on top, inviting your audience to tap along. It's contemporary and fun without sacrificing musicality.

Who it's for

Grade 1.5 concert bands looking for a crowd-pleasing novelty with real musical substance. Young musicians benefit from the straightforward chart and clear grooves, while the blues harmony and rock beat introduce contemporary musical language in an accessible package. This works for festival or contest settings where a lighter selection can showcase your ensemble's range and versatility.

How to get the most out of it

Have your bass line players lock in first. The ice-cold foundation underneath the blues melody is what makes the whole groove feel loose and fun; rhythm section rehearsals dedicated to locking that feel will pay dividends when the full band comes together.
Shape the slurs with intention. The slip-sliding slurs are written to suggest the penguin movement, so encourage players to use legato tonguing or true slurs (depending on instrument) to create that smooth, playful character rather than rushing through them mechanically.
Let the percussion section drive the energy. The funky rock beat is the heartbeat of this piece; give your percussionists permission to own that groove and use rehearsal time to dial in the pocket before asking the winds to sit on top of it.

How to use it

Open a concert with this to set a light, energetic tone, or program it midway to break up a series of traditional selections. Its novelty appeal and 2:10 runtime make it ideal for festival rotations where you need a short, memorable piece that showcases your band's musicality and style.