High Five!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This piece transforms a concert from a one-way performance into a genuine community event. The accessible Grade 1.5 level removes technical barriers while the built-in novelty elements (high-fives, drum-off, invited improvisation) give young musicians real ownership of the performance, making them active participants rather than passive performers.

Infectious and collaborative. The medium-rock groove pulls everyone in immediately, while the eighth-note motive gives the piece shape and momentum. There's real joy in the solos and the drum conversation, and the high-five moments feel like genuine connection rather than gimmick.

Young concert bands at the Grade 1.5 level who want to program something engaging without sacrificing musicianship. This works equally well for groups seeking an opener that energizes an audience or a closer that leaves listeners smiling and feeling part of the performance.

• Establish the high-five tradition early in rehearsal as a band ritual, not an afterthought. Decide together where in the form fives happen (with each other, with the audience, or both) and rehearse it the same way every time so it feels natural on stage.
• Give your solo featured players (flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, clarinet) space to craft their own two-measure phrases during the designated solo section. Spend rehearsal time letting them experiment, then lock in their choice so the piece has continuity while staying personal.
• Let your percussion section own the drum-off. Have snare and tom players trade ideas in rehearsal, then let them decide how to build intensity. This section works best when the audience feels genuine musical conversation, not a scripted moment.
• The medium-rock groove is the glue holding everything together. Nail your rhythm section early in the rehearsal process so soloists and percussion can take creative risks on top of a solid foundation.

Use this as a concert opener to immediately involve the audience and set a participatory tone for the evening. It also works brilliantly as a finale when you want families and listeners to leave with high energy and a sense that the band brought them into the music-making.

• Playing with a steady rock groove and consistent eighth-note subdivision
• Balancing individual voice in ensemble context during solo passages
• Building and releasing intensity as a section (particularly percussion)
• Responding to ensemble colleagues in real-time musical dialogue
• Managing dynamic contrast between groove sections and feature moments