Superstition (includes "Living for the City" Intro): Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

This arrangement captures what made Wonder's early funk masterpieces so effective: the horn lines cut through with personality, the rhythm section locks into a groove that students can feel in their bodies, and the opening nod to 'Living for the City' adds narrative interest without overwhelming the main event. Grade 3 groups get to play genuinely funky music without drowning in technical demands, which means more attention can go toward pocket, articulation, and the kind of musical maturity that funk demands.

Irresistible forward momentum from the opening fanfare through the final note. The familiar melody sits on top of a syncopated, propulsive rhythm that makes standing still nearly impossible; the horn lines sparkle with attitude, and the whole thing feels like a celebration rather than a march.

Intermediate marching programs looking for a crowd-pleasing selection that sits solidly within their technical range. Students who respond to rhythm and contemporary idioms will find motivation here, and directors programming a full season will appreciate how cleanly this bridges the gap between classical and popular music.

• Lock the opening fanfare into a tight, disciplined unison before the ensemble splinters into its harmonic parts. This section sets the energy and the audience's expectation, so precision here pays dividends.
• Address the horn section as a unit early in rehearsal. The signature riffs need to sit behind the melody enough to groove without disappearing, and brass players often need reminders that 'funky' means less vibrato and tighter articulation.
• Build the rhythm section's confidence in the groove by isolating drums, bass, and pit together for several rehearsals. Once they own the pocket, everything else falls into place.
• Shape dynamics across the full ensemble to keep the arrangement moving. Funk lives in the space between tight and loose; too much volume flattens the character, too little kills the swagger.

Anchor a concert's lighter half or close a set with infectious energy. The opener provides enough musical substance to command respect while the main body of the piece gives the audience an immediate, visceral connection; pair it with a contrasting ballad or classical work to show your ensemble's range.

• Funk articulation and phrasing, especially the difference between marched 'straight' eighth notes and swung interpretations
• Rhythmic independence between harmonic and rhythmic sections
• Reading syncopated rhythmic figures in multiple parts simultaneously
• Balancing tone and articulation to support groove rather than overpower it
• Responding to and maintaining a steady pulse under syncopated melodic lines