I Wan'na Be Like You: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Wasson's Latin arrangement flips the switch on a song most students know from childhood, giving it an infectious swagger that feels contemporary without losing the Sherman Brothers' melodic clarity. The chart respects both the original charm and adds genuine percussion interest, making this work equally well as a crowd-pleaser on a spring concert or as a parade closer. Your students will discover this isn't novelty music; it's a genuinely fun arrangement that teaches solid musicianship.

Tropical, confident, and playful. The arrangement cracks with energy and swagger; this is music that makes people move. Underneath the obvious charm runs a current of genuine musicality that keeps it from ever feeling thin or throwaway.

High school and advanced middle school marching bands looking for repertoire that connects with audiences while keeping students engaged. Directors who want to program something recognizable and fun without sacrificing musical integrity. Ensembles developing facility with Latin feels and syncopated phrasing.

• Nail the clave rhythm in your percussion section first. Once that Latin backbone sits solidly in the ensemble, the horn lines will lock naturally against it.
• Push the bright, syncopated hits in the brass without letting them blur together. These moments define the chart's energy, so precision matters more than volume.
• Let the melody breathe during the more lyrical passages. The swing feeling works best when your section leaders understand when to sit back and when to drive forward.
• Use your recorded accompaniment to lock the overall groove, but have your rhythm section prepare independently so they own the feel rather than follow it.

Save this for late in the season when your ensemble has developed the precision and pocket awareness to execute Latin feels with style. It works brilliantly as a closer to a concert or parade set, especially following something more serious. Consider pairing it with other film or pop-based repertoire to build a thematic set that celebrates how modern composers and arrangers approach familiar material.

• Reading and executing Latin rhythm figures, particularly clave and syncopated cues
• Coordinating horn lines against an independent percussion groove
• Balancing rhythmic precision with the flexibility required in swing-inflected passages
• Understanding how arrangement transforms source material while preserving melodic integrity
• Ensemble control at dynamic extremes, from punchy accents to sustained passages