Shut Up and Dance (arr. Matt Conaway): Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Matt Conaway has captured the infectious momentum of the original while building in excellent structural variety that keeps the energy fresh across the form. The Grade 3 scoring balances accessibility with genuine sophistication in how the parts interact, giving every section something engaging to play. This is the kind of arrangement that makes students excited to come to rehearsal and delivers real crowd impact on the field.

Propulsive and relentless, with an irresistible forward momentum that comes from crystalline rhythmic clarity rather than volume. The arrangement captures that dancing-at-a-concert energy where the beat becomes almost physical, and individual players feel like they're part of something larger than themselves.

Marching programs looking for contemporary repertoire that connects with students without sacrificing musical substance. Directors who want a piece that energizes both the ensemble and the audience, with enough arranging craft to make rehearsing it genuinely educational.

• Lock the front ensemble and battery into the primary groove before worrying about the horns; once that foundation is locked, the melodic voices settle into place naturally.
• Resist the urge to push the tempo when excitement builds. The original recording sits comfortably, and maintaining that pocket creates more impact than rushing.
• The synth line works best when it sits slightly behind the beat; this creates the propulsive feeling the arrangement is after rather than sitting on top of the rhythm section.
• Emphasize the dynamic peaks and valleys Conaway has written in. The contrast between the tight, reduced sections and full ensemble moments makes the arrangement feel bigger than it is.

Plant this in the middle or closing section of your show where energy and crowd engagement matter most. It works especially well as a palate cleanser between heavier or more lyrical pieces, or as the moment where your show shifts from concert-style into something more visceral and immediate.

• Maintaining consistent pulse in uptempo grooves with driving sixteenth-note patterns
• Balancing syncopated rhythmic figures against straight rhythmic background
• Playing with rhythmic precision in a modern pop/rock context
• Executing dynamic contrast and phrasing in contemporary arranging
• Coordinating ensemble parts that layer melodic and rhythmic elements