Santa's Rockin' Workshop: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Featuring Up on the Housetop, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Auld Lang Syne
Traditional / arr. Chris M. Bernotas
Grade: 0.5
Item: 00-PK-0009462
$50.00
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Description
Santa's Rockin' Workshop, arranged by Chris M. Bernotas, is all ready for your students' very first performance. It uses only the first six notes of the Bb scale, has two dynamic markings, one articulation, no key signature, and no slurs. It does have the holiday classics: "Up on the Housetop," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and a taste of "Auld Lang Syne." There is even a terrific part for cowbell, because every holiday tune should have cowbell!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Santa's Rockin' Workshop: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations Series for Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PK-0009462
More about this title
About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas
Chris M. Bernotas brings over 25 years of music education experience to his work as a composer and conductor. Currently serving as Director of Instrumental Publications at Alfred Music, he has shaped band and orchestra curricula worldwide, earning recognition for arrangements and compositions that balance accessibility with genuine musicality.
Bernotas understands the real pressures of the rehearsal room because he has spent significant time in it. His guest conducting and clinician work with honor bands and festival ensembles keeps him connected to what directors and students actually need. He has authored several pedagogical resources including Sound Innovations Ensemble Development and Sound Artistry, channeling his classroom insights into materials that help teachers build strong musicians from day one.
Why we love this
This is not a watered-down holiday tune. Bernotas has constructed a genuine opening concert piece that asks your newest musicians to play recognizable, beloved melodies while establishing healthy ensemble fundamentals. The constraint of six notes, no key signature, and minimal technical demands actually forces clarity and precision; your band will sound unified and confident from measure one. Cowbell is the perfect finishing touch that makes every student feel their part matters.
What to expect
Familiar carols take on a bright, energetic character that feels both authentic and achievable. There is joy in recognizing these melodies instantly, and there is genuine satisfaction in playing them together cleanly, with the cowbell adding just enough contemporary flair to remind players that holiday music can groove.
Who it's for
Students encountering their first concert experience need music that builds confidence without hiding behind simplicity. This arrangement serves early-year beginning bands, young musicians preparing for their debut performance, and any ensemble where celebrating achievement matters as much as demonstrating technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melodic line across your woodwinds and brass so the holiday tunes shine through clearly rather than getting lost in thick doubling.
- Treat the two dynamics (loud and soft) as genuine interpretive choices, not just markings to hit. Let students hear the difference they create in the overall shape of each tune.
- Give the cowbell player a moment to feel the pulse before their entrance. A confident, steady cowbell part ties the whole band together and gives younger players something concrete to lock onto rhythmically.
How to use it
Open your winter concert or holiday assembly with this piece. Its brevity and immediate appeal make it an ideal first piece for audiences still settling in, and your students will carry the confidence from a successful performance into their next challenge on the program. Use it mid-year if your beginning band needs a morale boost or a tangible win before tackling more complex repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing without a key signature
- Playing with consistent dynamics (forte and piano)
- Ensemble balance and blend across sections
- Steady pulse and rhythmic precision in a group setting
- Performance confidence in a concert context