Rock Sticks: Baritone/Euphonium

Familiar and completely fresh at once. The melody settles into a groove that feels comfortable but energized, with percussion writing that gives the band permission to swing and drive. For ninety seconds, your ensemble gets to be a rock band.

Beginning concert bands wanting to expand beyond traditional fare. This works equally well for groups building confidence with melodic concepts or those ready to explore different genres. The Grade 1 difficulty keeps the technical demands manageable while the arranging style keeps things engaging.

• Lock the groove early. Have your percussionists establish the rock feel independently before bringing in the melodic voices. A solid rhythm section foundation makes everything else sit naturally.
• Shape the familiar tune with subtle dynamic breathing. Avoid playing Chopsticks as one long phrase; treat it like a real rock arrangement with natural peaks and valleys across the form.
• Balance the drums toward the front of your sound. In rock styles, the percussion drives the energy, so don't bury that heartbeat under the horns.
• Rehearse rhythmic precision with the winds. Rock grooves punish rhythmic sloppiness more than traditional concert music does. Clean articulation and locked subdivision matter here.

Slot this between traditional ballads and marches to show your audience the range of what a concert band can do. It's especially effective early in the season when you want to build player investment through variety. The short length also makes it ideal for pops concerts or community engagement events where accessibility matters.

• Rock groove interpretation and stylistic playing
• Listening to and locking in with a rhythm section
• Percussion arranging concepts (drum kit simulation on mallet instruments)
• Maintaining consistent subdivision in contemporary idioms
• Dynamic shaping within repetitive melodic material