Still Into You: 1st Percussion

Michael Story's arrangement captures the infectious energy of "Still Into You" while keeping the technical demands appropriate for developing musicians. The deliberate focus on the dotted quarter-eighth rhythm gives students a concrete rhythmic challenge that feels like real musicianship rather than a drill, and the familiarity of the song ensures genuine engagement from an ensemble that might otherwise tune out standard educational material.

"Still Into You" pulses with youthful exuberance and modern rock swagger. The arrangement harnesses that energy within a concert band texture, creating a piece that feels current without sacrificing the clarity and ensemble discipline that young musicians need to practice.

This arrangement serves first-year and early second-year band students who are building facility with rhythm and ready to play repertoire with contemporary relevance. Directors seeking to program recognizable music that bridges the gap between concert band tradition and student interest will find this an immediate winner.

• Lock in the dotted quarter-eighth figure cleanly in the first rehearsal. Have sections practice the rhythm independently before putting it into the full band context so students understand its shape.
• Balance the layered parts carefully during the verse sections. Younger bands often overwhelm accompaniment lines, so designate which instrumental family carries the main statement and which provides harmonic support at each phrase.
• Keep the tempo steady and energetic without rushing. The rock feel depends on consistency, not acceleration; a steady conductor pulse helps sections maintain their individual parts without losing the groove.

Program this during a concert that celebrates accessibility and contemporary music, perhaps pairing it with other arrangements of familiar songs or alternating it with more traditional band repertoire to show range. It works particularly well as a season opener or closing number where student familiarity and audience recognition create momentum.

• Reading and executing dotted quarter-eighth rhythmic figures
• Playing layered harmonic parts within a rock-influenced texture
• Maintaining steady tempo under a consistent conductional pulse
• Balancing melodic and accompanimental roles across instrumental families