I've Gotta Be Me: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Bob Cerulli's arrangement strips away nothing essential from this Sammy Davis standard, instead using the string orchestra's range and dynamic flexibility to highlight what makes the tune memorable. Grade 2 students hear themselves playing real music with genuine expressive content, not a simplified facsimile.

Warm and intimate, with the gentle flow of 6/8 time creating a lilting quality that feels conversational. The interplay between lower and upper registers gives the ensemble moments of surprising depth and brilliance within a piece that remains approachable and performed at a modest tempo.

String orchestra directors teaching Grade 2 students who are ready to engage with Broadway repertoire and explore metric variety beyond simple meter. This works equally well for ensembles with flexible instrumentation or those seeking concert material that connects students to recognizable popular music.

• Spend time on the 6/8 pulse in rehearsal before combining it with the melody. Have the ensemble tap the beat and feel the two big pulses per measure rather than counting six eighth notes.
• Contrast the low register passages in violins and violas against the upper register sections with deliberate dynamic shaping. This register shift is where the orchestration's richness lives.
• Shape the familiar melody with attention to breath and phrase, even at soft dynamic levels. The song's recognition should never become an excuse for careless playing.

Pair this with other pop or contemporary standards to build a concert set that demonstrates string orchestra versatility beyond classical repertoire. It sits comfortably in a winter or spring concert where you want to feature a recognizable tune that audiences will enjoy and students will take pride in performing well.

• Reading and performing in 6/8 time
• Register awareness and control across the instrument's range
• Dynamic contrast and expressive shaping within a familiar melody
• Balance between multiple instrumental voices in a homophonic texture