Land of Make Believe: Score
By Chuck Mangione / arr. Mike Story
Grade: 1 (Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0005817
$8.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Chuck Mangione's hit is available for young players. The melody is doubled with alto sax and trumpet, along with a drum solo. Ranges are very easy, and the rhythms are slightly tricky but will lock in with repetition. A superb chart that will really come together for success!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Land of Make Believe: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
First Year Charts for Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
42
SKU:
00-PR-0005817
More about this title
About the Composer: Chuck Mangione
Chuck Mangione is a flugelhorn player and composer who brought jazz into the mainstream during the 1970s and 1980s. His warm, accessible sound and gift for melody made him one of the most commercially successful jazz artists of his era, reaching audiences far beyond the traditional jazz world.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures what makes Mangione's writing so effective in education: a memorable melody that sits beautifully across your section, straightforward harmony that sounds sophisticated without demanding advanced reading skills, and a built-in energy that engages young players immediately. The drum solo gives your rhythm section a moment to shine while the rest of the band locks into a groove that actually feels like jazz, not a simplified approximation of it.
What to expect
Warm, grooving, and immediately accessible. The samba rhythm gives the piece a light, swaying quality that feels more like a gentle conversation than a high-energy showpiece. There's real joy in the melody, especially when the trumpet and alto sax lock in together, and the whole ensemble will feel that forward motion.
Who it's for
First and second year jazz ensemble students who are ready to play something that sounds genuinely musical without wrestling with extended ranges or complex rhythmic syncopation. This works beautifully for young ensembles building foundational jazz vocabulary and confidence on standards that have real cultural resonance.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the rhythm section find the pocket during rehearsals. The samba feel won't click on the first run-through, but it will settle in once your drummer feels confident with the kick drum and bass patterns.
- Balance the trumpet and alto sax melody doublings so both colors come through equally. This isn't about volume but about blend and articulation matching between the two players.
- Give your drummer clear space and confidence during the solo section. A young drummer who feels supported will deliver far more musicality than one who's anxious about keeping the groove steady.
How to use it
Schedule this early in your jazz concert to establish an upbeat, welcoming tone. It works equally well as an opener or second selection and pairs naturally with other approachable standards that won't strain a young ensemble's endurance. The recognizable melody will resonate with audiences and gives students the confidence boost that comes from playing something audiences actually know.
Skills your students will build
- Reading lead sheets with chord symbols
- Samba rhythm patterns and swing eighth-note feel
- Melodic balance between doublings
- Section ensemble cohesion in a jazz context
- Active listening to rhythm section for groove and pulse maintenance