Rock Your Bones!: Concert Band Conductor Score

Story writes trombone features that actually celebrate what makes the instrument fun to play. The carefully marked slide positions mean your first and second year players can succeed immediately, while the glissandi give them a legitimate reason to explore the full range of their slide. It's novelty writing that respects the student musician.

Rock Your Bones! has the playful energy of a cartoon brought to life. The glissandi give it swagger and humor, while the straightforward chord progressions keep the groove accessible and satisfying for both players and audience.

This is built for concert bands with beginning trombonists ready for a spotlight moment. It works equally well in programs where trombones are still developing basic facility and in bands looking for a high-energy novelty number that doesn't require advanced technique.

• Encourage trombonists to commit fully to the glissandi. Clean, confident slides will land the comedic timing better than tentative ones.
• Balance the trombone feature with the supporting band parts so the soloist sits clearly in front without drowning out the ensemble.
• Mark all slide positions in rehearsal before full run-throughs so players can focus on tone and articulation rather than mechanics.

Program this as an encore or mid-concert crowd-pleaser. At under two minutes, it fits nicely on a pops concert, a spring concert, or any program where you want to remind the audience that beginning band can be genuinely entertaining. It also works as a morale booster in rehearsal when students need a break from more serious repertoire.

• Trombone slide position control across all positions with visual notation support
• Executing smooth, controlled glissandi with artistic intention
• Performing as a confident soloist within an ensemble context
• Ensemble balance and articulation clarity in supporting sections
• Rhythmic precision in novelty style with syncopation