In Summer (from Frozen): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Rick Stitzel's arrangement captures the infectious joy of this song while making it genuinely playable for Grade 3 ensembles. The writing balances accessibility with musical substance, so your students get a performance-worthy arrangement without excessive technical demands.

The arrangement radiates the whimsical optimism of the original, capturing that nostalgic warmth mixed with comedic innocence. Bright horn writing and conversational trading between sections create an inviting, conversational soundscape that feels both fresh and joyful.

Jazz ensembles in middle school and early high school settings will find this arrangement accessible yet engaging. Directors programming concerts with contemporary music or preparing students for their first exposure to jazz arranging will appreciate the straightforward voicings and clear part relationships.

• Keep the energy buoyant throughout; this tune thrives on forward momentum and a conversational lightness between sections rather than heavy articulation.
• Lock the rhythm section early in rehearsals. Once drums, bass, and piano establish the pocket, the horns and melody lines will sit naturally into the groove.
• Balance the melody carefully when soloists trade passages with the ensemble; the solo voice needs clarity without drowning out the comping underneath.
• Treat phrase endings with care. Resist the urge to slow down at cadences; this arrangement stays liveliest when you maintain tempo through structural points.

This works beautifully as a change-of-pace selection in a jazz concert, offering audiences a familiar entry point into the ensemble's sound. You might pair it with more traditional jazz standards to show students' range, or use it as a finale when you want to leave the audience smiling.

• Swing eighth-note feel and jazz phrasing
• Ensemble balance in a groove-oriented context
• Trading solos and call-response within a structured arrangement
• Comping fundamentals for rhythm section players
• Maintaining steady tempo through sectional transitions