I Play Chicken with the Train: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arr. Nick Baratta
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PK-0007819
$50.00
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Description
Country music sensation Cowboy Troy combines country music with hip-hop into a hybrid that he calls "hick-hop." Here is one of his biggest hits in a terrific arrangement by veteran writer Nick Baratta. This one really grooves! (1:27)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, I Play Chicken with the Train: 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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Additional Details
Series:
Mega Sounds for Marching Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
110
SKU:
00-PK-0007819
More about this title
About the Arranger: Nick Baratta
Nick Baratta earned his BM in Music Education and Applied Percussion from The New England Conservatory in 1980, studying under Boston Symphony percussionists Frank Epstein and Vic Firth. For two decades he taught at West Genesee Central Schools in New York, where he directed the high school lab band and marching band while instructing all percussion students in grades 6 through 12. During his tenure, West Genesee became a 30-time New York State Champion and won the Festival of States National Championship three times.
Since 1978, Baratta has served as Creative Director and Wind and Percussion Arranger for the West Genesee Marching Band, and he has consulted with high schools across the country on competitive marching band design and repertoire. His compositions and arrangements have been performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Music Educators National Conference, Bands of America, and the Percussive Arts Society National Convention. He has maintained a private percussion studio since 1980 and has been published by Alfred/Belwin since 1987.
Why we love this
Baratta's arrangement captures the infectious groove and contemporary energy of the original without sacrificing clarity for a Grade 3 ensemble. The scoring keeps the rhythmic and melodic drive front and center, making it immediately engaging for students while offering enough harmonic and textural detail to hold the audience's attention. This is the kind of arrangement that reminds students why they wanted to play in the first place.
What to expect
The tune pulses with a hybrid energy that blends country swing with hip-hop beats, creating a rhythmic momentum that pulls listeners along. The arrangement shimmers with contemporary color while maintaining the straightforward clarity and drive that makes marching music so immediate and fun.
Who it's for
This arrangement works perfectly for marching bands seeking contemporary repertoire that connects with modern musical styles and student interests. Grade 3 bands with solid fundamentals and a groove-oriented sound will find this accessible yet satisfying to perform and program.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the snare and bass drum entrances from the opening moments; the hip-hop backbone of this tune depends on rhythmic precision in the low battery and front ensemble.
- Balance the melody between the high woodwinds and trumpets so that neither section overwhelms the other during the main theme.
- Keep the tempos steady and avoid the tendency to rush during the groovy sections; a metronome in rehearsal will help the band feel the pocket rather than chase the beat.
- Pay attention to dynamics and articulation in the tutti sections to prevent the full band from sounding muddy; crisp tonguing in the winds and clear stick definition in the percussion will cut through the texture.
How to use it
This works as a standout opener or closer on a concert that aims to showcase the band's range and appeal to a younger audience. Pair it with both traditional marching repertoire and other contemporary selections to demonstrate how the ensemble can command attention across multiple musical styles.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady tempo and groove in syncopated rhythmic contexts
- Balancing melody and accompaniment across multiple instrumental families
- Executing rhythmic precision in contemporary musical styles
- Responding to articulation and dynamic markings to shape the overall ensemble sound
- Interpreting and performing modern genre hybrids with accuracy and musicality