September (arr. Paul Murtha): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement preserves the infectious groove of the original while distributing the melodic material across your entire band, ensuring every section has a moment to shine. The two-minute duration fits perfectly into concert pacing without eating up rehearsal time on a piece that engages audiences immediately. Funk at this level teaches ensemble precision in ways that classical repertoire often cannot; students discover that locking in rhythmically together is as essential here as intonation is elsewhere.

Infectious, propulsive, and undeniably fun. This is music that makes your audience lean forward in their seats and your students smile while playing. The groove is straightforward enough to lock in quickly yet sophisticated enough to feel genuinely musical rather than purely recreational.

Directors programming shorter works that energize both performers and audiences without requiring weeks of rehearsal investment. Bands at the grade 3 level who are ready to explore contemporary styles and see how professional arrangers distribute material across the ensemble.

• Keep the eighth-note subdivision locked and relaxed from the first entrance; any tension in the rhythm section will ripple through the whole ensemble.
• When the melody passes between sections, ensure the receiving section enters with confidence and ownership rather than waiting passively for their moment.
• Layer the percussion parts deliberately so that each element (kick drum, hi-hat, snare) sits in its own frequency space rather than muddying together.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to anchor your band's feel against a professional reference, then gradually reduce reliance on it as sections internalize the pocket.

Drop this into a concert to provide immediate tonal contrast with classical or traditional wind band fare; it works especially well in the second half of a program when audiences appreciate a shift in energy. Spring concerts and informal performances gain particular benefit from the accessibility and crowd appeal this piece delivers.

• Maintaining a consistent rhythmic pocket across ensemble sections
• Executing smooth melodic handoffs between parts without loss of momentum
• Differentiating funk articulation and phrasing from classical approaches
• Balancing rhythmic precision with stylistic relaxation in a syncopated context
• Reading and interpreting slash notation and chord symbols in ensemble settings