Smooth: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
As performed by Itaal Shur / As performed by Rob Thomas / As performed by Santana featuring Rob Thomas / As performed by Rick Mattingly / As performed by Aaron Klausing / Arranged by Diane Downs
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00383034
$35.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth - Full Score | $7.50 | |
| Smooth - Xylophone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Xylophone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Vibes | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Marimba 1 | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Marimba 2 | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Timbales | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Bongos | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Congas | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Maracas | $6.00 | |
| Smooth - Drum Set | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Founded and directed by award-winning educator Diane Downs, The Louisville Leopard Percussionists have been wowing audiences at national and regional conventions for years. Here are the authentic arrangements by Diane carefully edited by well-known educator/author Rick Mattingly. Each arrangement is written with a flexible instrumentation based around mallet instruments, drum set, and a variety of Latin instruments. Dur: 2:40
Smooth: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00383034
More about this title
About the Artist: Itaal Shur
Itaal Shur is a composer and producer who has shaped contemporary music across multiple genres, from pop to world music collaborations. His work bridges accessible melodic writing with sophisticated harmonic language, making his compositions natural fits for educational ensembles seeking material that resonates with student performers and audiences alike.
Why we love this
Diane Downs has distilled the infectious energy of this tune into an arrangement that lives at the intersection of contemporary accessibility and genuine musicianship. The flexible instrumentation built around mallets and Latin percussion gives your ensemble a fresh sonic identity while keeping the score manageable for Grade 3 players.
What to expect
Propulsive and groovy, with Latin percussion colors that keep the sound from feeling dated despite the contemporary source material. The arrangement invites your band to play with a looseness and swagger that feels good in rehearsal and translates immediately to an engaged audience.
Who it's for
Concert bands looking to program music that connects with modern audiences without sacrificing musicianship or technical growth. This works equally well for groups seeking percussion feature opportunities or those simply tired of the standard Grade 3 repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the groove first. Let your rhythm section (drum set and Latin instruments) lock in the pocket before layering melodic voices. This arrangement thrives on precision, not speed.
- Balance the mallet parts against your winds. The marimba and vibraphone should sit in the mix as conversation partners, not background texture, so adjust dynamic levels in sectionals accordingly.
- Shape the phrasing across the full 2:40 duration. Without the original vocal melody anchoring the form, your band must create momentum through careful dynamic contour and articulation choices.
How to use it
Pair this with your spring concert or end-of-year programs where you want to showcase percussion depth and give your band permission to sound current. At 2:40, it's compact enough to feature alongside longer classical works or to anchor a diverse program of contemporary arrangements.
Skills your students will build
- Reading parts written for extended percussion battery (mallets, drum set, Latin instruments)
- Balancing ensemble texture across winds, pitched percussion, and rhythm section
- Maintaining steady groove and pocket in grooved versus traditional metered contexts
- Articulation and phrasing in contemporary pop/world music idioms