It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera): Concert Band Conductor Score

Roy Phillippe's arrangement captures the swagger and momentum of Bublé's interpretation without losing the sophistication of Mancini's original melody. The salsa-influenced percussion gives young bands permission to swing hard and play with attitude, which builds confidence and musicality fast. At Grade 2, this is genuinely fun to perform and immediately recognizable to audiences.

Suave and swinging, with the kind of effortless cool that Mancini mastered. The salsa percussion and forward-moving harmonies create momentum and warmth, making this feel like a celebration rather than a classical etude. There's real joy in playing this tune.

Young concert bands at the Grade 2 level who are ready to explore contemporary pop arrangements with personality and snap. This works well for groups that have solid fundamentals in place but need repertoire that excites both players and audiences beyond traditional band fare.

• Lock the rhythm section's groove early in rehearsal. The salsa percussion colors everything that happens on top, so anchor your drummers and bass line before layering melody and harmonies.
• Shape the melody with rubato in the opening phrases. Mancini wrote this tune for singers; even at tempo, a slight give and take in the lead voice keeps the sophistication that made the song famous.
• Balance the percussion so it enhances rather than overwhelms. Young bands often play salsa rhythms too loud; it should feel like a heartbeat under the band, not a competing feature.
• Encourage your soloists (if the arrangement includes them) to phrase like they're singing lyrics, even on instrumental lines. This piece lives in the pop idiom, not the classical one.

Program this in a pops or popular music concert to show off your ensemble's range beyond traditional band repertoire. It pairs well with other Mancini arrangements or contemporary pop charts and works as an encore or closer that leaves audiences smiling.

• Balancing homophonic texture with active percussion parts
• Executing Latin rhythms and syncopation in ensemble context
• Phrasing melodic lines with style and inflection
• Reading and performing salsa-influenced percussion patterns
• Managing dynamic control in contemporary pop idiom