Hooked On A Feeling: Flex Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Students and audiences alike respond immediately to this '70s earworm, which removes the intimidation factor that often comes with popular music arrangements. Paul Murtha's scoring for flexible instrumentation means your ensemble can perform it authentically regardless of what instruments walk through the door on any given day. The two minute fifty second duration fits perfectly into concert programs without consuming valuable rehearsal time on a piece that will get genuine laughs and genuine applause.

Disco-era sunshine and unabashed joy. The arrangement captures that irresistible 1970s bounce that makes you want to move, complete with layered harmonies and a groove that sits somewhere between rock and funk. It's the musical equivalent of a feel-good movie moment: unpretentious, instantly recognizable, and genuinely fun.

Directors building contemporary pops programs or introducing rock repertoire to younger ensembles will find this accessible and engaging. Works equally well for middle school groups beginning to explore flexible instrumentation and high school ensembles seeking audience appeal without compromising musicianship.

• Lean into the rhythmic pocket rather than rushing the tempo. The groove matters more than precision, so lock the ensemble into that steady, confident backbeat that made the original recording so memorable.
• Balance the vocal moments carefully. Whether you're featuring a soloist or having a section carry the melody, ensure that accompanying parts stay locked and supportive without overpowering the lead line.
• Find the humor in the arrangement. This piece isn't meant to be pristine. A little looseness in the ensemble playing actually serves the character better than a buttoned-up classical approach.
• Highlight the bass line early in rehearsals. Once that foundation sits solidly, the rest of the arrangement builds naturally and the whole group will feel more confident.

This works brilliantly as an opener or encore that energizes an audience and signals that classical music isn't the only conversation your ensemble can have. Include it in spring or end-of-year concerts where you want to showcase student musicianship through contemporary material, or program it alongside other pop arrangements to demonstrate genre flexibility. The three-minute runtime makes it ideal for pops-focused fundraiser concerts or community outreach performances where accessibility matters.

• Maintaining consistent groove in a rock/pop idiom
• Reading contemporary rhythmic notation
• Balancing within heterogeneous instrumentation
• Playing flexibly across different ensemble configurations
• Capturing stylistic character beyond traditional classical technique