Hedgehog, Monkey and Waffles!: Concert Band Conductor Score

This suite taps directly into what your students already know and love, which means they'll bring genuine enthusiasm to rehearsals from day one. Michael Story's Grade 2 arrangement respects both the melodic hooks that make these songs stick and the musical literacy your band needs to develop, avoiding the trap of oversimplifying the source material.

Pure musical fun with a pop sensibility. The three movements bounce between quirky, infectious melodies and straightforward harmonic support that keeps everyone engaged without overwhelming developing musicians. This is the sound of a band having a great time together.

Band directors working with Grade 2 ensembles who want to program music their students recognize and genuinely enjoy. This is also ideal for directors building confidence in younger bands through accessible, high-energy repertoire that stays musically legitimate.

• Keep the tempo crisp and energetic throughout. These songs thrive on rhythmic momentum, so lock in the groove early in rehearsal rather than letting tempos drift.
• Balance the humor with musicianship. Comedy works best when the band plays with confidence and precision, not when sections are allowed to slouch through their parts.
• Highlight the melodic lines in the reeds and brass. These are earworms by design, so make sure your soloists and primary voice players shape the phrases cleanly.

Program this as a concert highlight or a pops concert centerpiece. The suite's accessibility and entertainment value make it excellent for middle school audiences and family concert contexts, while the Grade 2 level ensures your band gets genuine musical work out of the preparation.

• Playing rhythmically tight popular song forms
• Balancing melody and harmony in contemporary arranging
• Sustaining energy through connected phrasing
• Reading and executing straightforward concert band textures at Grade 2 level