Funkytown: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts
Originally Performed by Lipps, Inc.
Words and music by Steve Greenberg [Lipps, Inc.] / arr. Ralph Ford
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PK-0006236
$65.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Funkytown: Score | $8.00 | |
| Funkytown: Flute | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: 1st B-flat Clarinet | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: E-flat Alto Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Optional Alto Sax | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: E-flat Baritone Saxophone | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: 1st B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: 2nd B-flat Trumpet | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: 1st F Horn | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Horn in B flat | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Low Brass & Woodwinds #1 - Bass Clef | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Low Brass & Woodwinds #2 - Bass Clef | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Low Brass & Woodwinds #1 - Treble Clef | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Tuba | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Electric Bass | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Mallets | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Snare Drum | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Quad-Toms | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Tonal Bass Drum | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Auxiliary Percussion | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Piano Accompaniment | $3.00 | |
| Funkytown: Drums | $3.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
One of the all-time dance-pop/disco favorites is presented in a hot, fresh version from arranger Ralph Ford. With its epic groove, this one is pure fun from start to finish! (1:45)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Funkytown: Marching 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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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Mega Sounds for Marching Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
110
SKU:
00-PK-0006236
More about this title
About the Composer: Steve Greenberg
Steve Greenberg co-wrote "Funkytown" in 1980, creating one of the most instantly recognizable disco-funk anthems of the era. His work as a songwriter and producer shaped the sound of dance music throughout the 1980s, crafting hooks and grooves that remain embedded in popular culture decades later.
For music educators, Greenberg's compositional sensibility offers a masterclass in groove-based writing. His ability to build infectious, repeatable musical ideas translates beautifully to educational settings, where clarity and memorability serve both the ensemble and the audience.
Why we love this
Ralph Ford's arrangement captures everything that made the original a phenomenon while tailoring it perfectly for marching band instrumentation and field execution. The groove stays infectious and accessible at Grade 3, which means your students can focus on locking in the funk rather than wrestling with technical complexity. This is the kind of repertoire that reminds audiences why they love marching band in the first place.
What to expect
Funkytown delivers pure kinetic energy from the first downbeat. The piece grooves with a disco-funk swagger that feels contemporary even decades after the original, building momentum through layered synth lines and a relentless bass pulse that propels the band forward. By the final section, the full ensemble is locked into an unstoppable rhythmic machine.
Who it's for
Marching bands at the Grade 3 level looking for a piece with high energy and crowd appeal that doesn't require advanced technique or extended range demands. It works equally well for competitive programs seeking a crowd-pleaser and for exhibition bands wanting something the audience will recognize and enjoy immediately.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the pocket early in rehearsal by isolating the rhythm section (drums, battery, and bass line) until the pulse feels effortless and locked. The groove is the foundation; everything else sits on top of it.
- Balance the synth/horn layers carefully so the melodic hook reads clearly without drowning out the rhythmic framework. Ford's voicing gives you room to shape the texture dynamically.
- Drill articulation consistency across sections, especially in staccato passages. Funk clarity depends on uniform attacks and releases, not volume alone.
- Use the recorded accompaniment (if available separately) in sectionals so parts can develop independence before marching together as a full ensemble.
How to use it
This works beautifully as an opener or closer on a concert or field show where you want to establish energy and set a celebratory tone. Its 1:45 duration also makes it ideal for filling a programming gap or leading into a more substantial work. Consider pairing it with other funk or contemporary pop arrangements to build a thematic set.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing funk rhythms and syncopation
- Locking rhythm sections (drums, battery, and bass line) with precision and consistency
- Balancing layered melodic and rhythmic textures within a marching band voicing
- Articulation control and uniformity within and across sections
- Marching and playing in a high-energy, groove-based arrangement