Splish Splash: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Michael Story's arrangement captures the playful irreverence of the original while making it accessible to young bands. The piece rewards solid independent counting and rhythmic precision, so students feel genuinely accomplished when they nail the performance. It's the rare selection that motivates practice for its own sake while guaranteeing applause from an audience that knows and loves the tune.

Splish Splash bounces with infectious good humor and unbridled optimism. The arrangement has real rhythmic snap without feeling rushed, and there's a playful spirit that invites both musicians and listeners to smile.

Concert bands at the early intermediate level will find this arrangement perfectly scaled for their abilities while delivering maximum fun. It suits groups looking for a crowd-pleaser that doesn't sacrifice musicianship and works equally well as a confidence builder for younger ensembles or as a change-of-pace selection for more advanced groups.

• Lock in the rhythm section early; the groove sits on a strong foundation, so bass and percussion clarity lifts everything above them.
• Keep the tempo steady and driving. This piece lives on forward momentum, so resist the urge to slow down during ensemble transitions.
• Balance the melody line across first and second parts. Splish Splash shares the hook around the ensemble, so make sure no one part dominates.
• Emphasize the rhythmic articulation in the counterlines. Inner voices have fun rhythmic figures that sparkle when cleanly tongued.

Place this near the end of a concert program to send the audience out happy, or use it as a spring concert opener to immediately engage younger listeners. It pairs well alongside other accessible pop selections and serves as a natural reward concert for a band that's been drilling fundamentals all semester.

• Independent counting through eight-bar phrases
• Rhythmic precision and articulation consistency
• Balancing melody and countermelody across part distributions
• Maintaining steady tempo and groove under musical pressure