Monkey See, Monkey Do: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Stitzel strips away unnecessary complexity while keeping the groove irresistible. The traded riff keeps every section engaged and accountable, and his decision to make the solo section flexible means you can feature whatever talent walks into rehearsal on any given day.

Playful and infectious. The riff sticks immediately, and the blues-in-F groove carries a relaxed confidence that lets young players breathe. There's no pretense here, just straight-ahead swing.

Beginning jazz ensembles and programs introducing swing rhythms for the first time. This works equally well for a standalone jazz class or as an early-season piece for a more developed ensemble building comfort with blues changes.

• Lock the rhythm section first. Get your bass and drums comfortable with the blues pocket before layering in the horns; everything else sits on their foundation.
• Trade the riff deliberately. Even at this level, clarity in who plays when prevents the chart from turning muddy. Mark entrances clearly in your parts.
• Encourage the soloist to sit in the pocket rather than rush ahead. Beginning players often speed up over unfamiliar chord changes; steady time from the rhythm section keeps soloists grounded.
• Shape the tutti passages with dynamic contrast. The score gives you an opportunity to teach how repetition and volume work together to build excitement.

Open a jazz concert with this or use it early in the year as your students' first experience trading solos. Its approachable melody and manageable range make it ideal for building ensemble confidence before tackling more sophisticated changes.

• Swing eighth-note articulation and feel
• Blues harmonic structure and chord progression
• Ensemble riff playing with rhythmic precision
• Solo improvisation over 12-bar blues form
• Listening and reacting in real time during section trades
• Reading and responding to conductor cues in ensemble contexts