Superstition (arr. Paul Murtha): Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement captures the infectious groove and harmonic character of Superstition while keeping the ensemble writing accessible for Grade 2 players. Your students will engage immediately with a tune they likely already know, which means they can focus on locking into the funk feel, responding to sectional cues, and understanding how arrangement serves the song rather than overshadowing it.

The arrangement sits in that sweet spot where funk and jazz meet. Minor key sensibility, persistent groove, and enough harmonic movement to keep ears interested without overwhelming players who are still building their jazz vocabulary. The feel is propulsive and modern, yet the tune has enough structural clarity that even younger players can hear the form unfold.

Jazz ensembles at the middle school or early high school level, or non-traditional jazz programs where students have strong reading skills but limited small-group experience. Directors looking to build ensemble cohesion with a song that generates natural enthusiasm and rewards precise rhythmic execution.

• Establish the groove pocket first in rehearsal before layering articulation. Have the rhythm section play alone until the pulse feels inevitable, then add ensemble parts one section at a time.
• Pay attention to the hi-hat and snare backbeat as your primary timekeeping reference. The piano and bass should lock into that grid rather than trying to lead it.
• Emphasize the space between notes rather than rushing through passages. Funk is about the silence as much as the sound; students often fill gaps that should breathe.
• Record a rehearsal and listen back to check that the melodic lines sit on top of the groove rather than fighting against it. Tighter rhythm sections make student soloists sound better immediately.

Program this as an opener on a jazz concert where you want immediate energy and audience connection, or use it as a midseason confidence builder for ensembles still developing their swing vocabulary. The accessibility makes it ideal for demonstrations at recruiting events or jazz festivals where you need a piece that sounds polished quickly.

• Locking into a funk groove and understanding the relationship between written rhythm and pocket feel
• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms in a pop idiom
• Responding to sectional cues and ensemble balance in a non-traditional jazz context
• Distinguishing between straight eighths and swing eighths through listening and adjustment
• Building ensemble cohesion through repetitive groove figures