Listen to the Music: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Nick Baratta's arrangement captures the infectious groove of the original while building in a standout trumpet solo that gives your soloists a genuine moment to shine. At Grade 2.5, this sits perfectly in the sweet spot where your band can handle real musicality without drowning in technical demands, making it ideal for early-season momentum or mid-year morale.

Upbeat and propulsive, with the laid-back pocket of 1970s rock meeting the precision of a marching ensemble. The groove invites confident movement, and the trumpet feature brings a touch of swagger without demanding virtuosity. From downbeat to finish, it maintains the kind of infectious energy that makes audiences lean in.

This arrangement works for marching bands at the high school level and accessible college programs looking to add contemporary rock energy to their book. It's equally strong as a standalone feature or as a section highlight in a full program, and it appeals to students who may connect more readily with recognizable pop and rock repertoire.

• Lock the groove in the rhythm section before rehearsing the full band. The pulse is everything here; once your battery and low brass lock in, the rest of the arrangement will sit naturally on top.
• Shape the trumpet solo with dynamics and phrasing rather than raw speed. This is a rock moment in a marching context, so encourage your soloist to play with attitude and space, not just accuracy.
• Keep the tempo steady and grounded. The arrangement thrives on a consistent, confident pulse; avoid letting excitement creep in and rush the time.
• Balance the upper woodwinds carefully during the main ensemble sections. They're often carrying counter-melody, so they need to cut through without overwhelming the trumpet line.

Program this early in a concert to set a conversational, accessible tone, or use it as a crowd-pleaser in the middle section of a mixed-repertoire show. The relatively straightforward grade level and strong thematic identity make it particularly effective as a bridge between demanding classical work and other contemporary styles.

• Maintaining groove and phrasing in a rock idiom
• Balancing ensemble texture in pop-inflected harmony
• Soloistic playing with character and confidence
• Understanding and performing syncopated rhythm patterns
• Listening for and locking into a consistent pulse in the rhythm section