My Favorite Things (arr. Michele Fernández): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Fernández transforms this beloved standard into something that crackles with contemporary Latin jazz energy. The arrangement respects the melody's integrity while giving your ensemble genuine swagger on stage, making it equally effective as a concert opener or a contest piece that audiences genuinely enjoy.

Warm and playful one moment, driving and propulsive the next. This arrangement captures the optimism of the original while wrapping it in sophisticated Latin rhythms and jazz voicings that feel current and alive.

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level looking for a chart that brings genuine joy to both players and listeners. Directors seeking a concert piece that works equally well in holiday programs, spring festivals, or jazz competitions.

• Lock into the Latin clave early in rehearsal. Once your rhythm section finds that pocket, the soloists will sit naturally into the groove.
• Balance the unison horn lines with clarity without forcing volume. These voices need to cut through the rhythm section's energy, not overpower it.
• Let the syncopation breathe in the melody. Resist the urge to square off what Fernández has written as intentionally swung rhythms.
• Mark breath points with your brass players so the band can sustain momentum through longer solo sections without gasping for air.

Open a concert with this to set a celebratory tone, or use it strategically in a jazz band set to showcase your ensemble's comfort with Latin feels. The accessible melody makes it perfect for holiday concerts, while the arrangement's sophistication keeps it interesting for discerning listeners.

• Latin jazz rhythmic interpretation and clave awareness
• Trading solos over a groove
• Balancing written harmony with rhythmic energy
• Performing syncopated melody lines with jazz articulation
• Listening to and locking with the rhythm section