My Funny Valentine: Concert Band Conductor Score

Jerry Brubaker's arrangement respects the integrity of Rodgers' iconic melody while crafting something genuinely fresh for young bands. The rich harmonies transform what could be a straightforward ballad into a warm, sophisticated performance piece that engages your entire ensemble without overreaching technically. This is the kind of arrangement that makes Grade 2 students feel like musicians, not just readers.

The piece unfolds with the quiet warmth of a late-night conversation between friends. Brubaker's harmonies wrap around the familiar melody like a comfortable blanket, neither cloying nor overly lush. There's genuine tenderness here, and enough musical substance to keep both player and listener engaged throughout.

This score is ideal for concert bands working at Grade 2, particularly ensembles seeking repertoire that builds musicianship alongside technical confidence. It serves directors who want their students to understand how a great melody can anchor an arrangement and how harmonic support enriches a solo line.

• Shape the melody with genuine legato phrasing rather than treating each phrase as isolated. The tune's strength comes from its arc, so conduct with an eye toward the long line even in a shorter arrangement.
• Balance your harmony voicing so the supporting parts enhance rather than obscure the main line. This arrangement's richness depends on clarity, not volume.
• Allow space between phrases for the melody to breathe. Young players tend to rush beautiful, slow material; a conductor's patient pulse does more here than any marking on the page.
• Attend to dynamic shaping within the grade level's comfort zone. Even modest crescendos and diminuendos lift the emotional content considerably.

Program this as a slower movement within a concert that otherwise emphasizes energy and virtuosity. It pairs naturally with uptempo selections from the Great American Songbook or with contemporary concert works. The short duration (2:28) makes it an elegant opening piece or a poignant encore.

• Sustained legato phrasing across longer melodic lines
• Dynamic control in slower tempos
• Harmonic listening and blend within section
• Stylistic interpretation of popular song melody
• Balance between melody and accompaniment roles