Stand Up and Swing: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This piece transforms a Grade 1.5 ensemble into something polished and confident. By rotating solo sections through the band while maintaining strong harmonic support, O'Reilly creates genuine musical conversations rather than simple feature passages. Young musicians experience what it means to play in a real style while building maturity in their sound without requiring advanced technique.

Modern, approachable, and grounded in a minor swing tonality that keeps things interesting. Each section gets a moment to shine while the full band swings together, creating the feeling of a seasoned group rather than young musicians playing in isolation.

Grade 1.5 concert bands ready to explore something beyond their standard warm-up repertoire. This works equally well for second-year high school students or advanced middle school ensembles looking to program music that sounds genuinely musical without technical demands.

• Emphasize the swing feel in the rhythm section (clarinets, saxophones, and lower reeds). The "cool" minor tonality only works when the rhythmic pocket feels natural, not stiff.
• Rotate leadership between sections during rehearsal so every group owns their solo moment. This builds investment and prevents the "backing up" passages from sounding like filler.
• Balance the "tasty licks" in the accompanying voices so they support rather than overpower the featured section. These counter-melodies are the engine of the arrangement's maturity.

Perfect for a concert opener or the lighter half of a mixed program. The Accent on Achievement correlation means it integrates seamlessly into rehearsal curriculum at the Book 2 level, making it work equally well as a performance piece or an extended drill.

• Executing swing rhythm with consistent feel and articulation
• Balancing solo and accompaniment roles within the ensemble
• Playing stylistically in a minor tonality
• Creating cohesion across contrasting instrumental sections