I Got Rhythm: Flexible Band/String Ensemble Score & Parts

Michael Story's arrangement captures everything that makes this tune irresistible while keeping the demands manageable for beginning mixed ensembles. The customizable Teacher Map and flexible instrumentation system solve the real logistical challenge of combining instruments at different proficiency levels, and the carefully edited string parts with fingerings and bowings make less familiar keys approachable for younger players. Most importantly, students play a melody they already recognize, which builds confidence and engagement from the first rehearsal.

Bright, swinging, and immediately joyful. The melody bounces with infectious energy, supported by a groove that feels both sophisticated and utterly accessible. Even at this easy level, the piece breathes with the spirit of a jazz standard, offering students a genuine taste of American vernacular music rather than a dumbed-down approximation.

This arrangement is built for any beginning mixed ensemble struggling with instrumentation balance or the logistics of combining winds, strings, and percussion. Directors working with first-year students in heterogeneous groups will find the flexible parts and Teacher Map essential; you can assign voices based on who shows up that day. It's equally valuable for small ensembles (quartets, quintets) that need accessible repertoire with real musicality.

• Balance the familiar head melody against the accompaniment by having principal voices (however you distribute them) play with clear presence while keeping supporting parts appropriately recessed in the mix.
• Lock the rhythm section early and often. Even at Grade 1, the groove drives the piece, so establish rock-solid time among the bass, lower winds, and percussion before layering in the melody.
• Lean into the jazz inflection of the melody. Encourage slight swing on eighth notes and attention to phrasing that respects the syncopation; this isn't a march, and the rhythmic looseness is part of the charm.
• Use the free percussion accompaniment track during rehearsals to give students a strong harmonic and rhythmic reference, especially when sectionals are necessary.

Program this early in the concert season as a morale-builder and ensemble-bonding moment. The familiar tune draws family and community engagement, and its upbeat character provides perfect contrast to any serious or classical pieces nearby. It works beautifully as a concert opener or closer, and the short duration (1:45) makes it ideal for pops concerts, school assemblies, or informal performances where accessibility matters.

• Reading and performing swing eighths and syncopated rhythms in jazz style
• Playing in less familiar keys with support from edited fingerings and bowings
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across mixed instrumental colors
• Responding to ensemble cues and maintaining groove in a non-classical idiom
• Flexible part assignment based on instrumentation needs and individual proficiency