That's What I Like: Full Orchestra Conductor Score

Michael Story's orchestration captures everything that made the original irresistible while remaining Grade 2 accessible. The flexibility to perform it with strings alone or expand to full orchestra means you can program this without scrambling for instrumentation, and your students will feel the energy of a genuine hit every time they play it.

Suave and irresistible. The arrangement maintains the original's slick R&B-pop vibe while giving every section moments to shine. It's the kind of piece that sounds effortless but demands attention to detail to land the groove properly.

Orchestras at the intermediate level who need contemporary repertoire that actually excites students. This works whether you have a full complement of instruments or are running a lean string section with selective winds and percussion.

• Keep the rhythmic pocket tight in the rhythm section; this arrangement relies on groove more than complexity, so ensemble precision in the basic pulse makes everything sit.
• Balance the main melody against accompaniment figures carefully. Story's orchestration often layers the tune across different sections, so listen for which instruments carry it and shape the phrase accordingly.
• Don't rush the tempo. The groove benefits from a confident, relaxed feel rather than pushing forward; let the infectious rhythm do the work.

Open a concert with it to grab your audience immediately, or tuck it into a pop-themed set alongside other contemporary hits. The Grade 2 level makes it ideal for a spring concert where you want accessibility without sacrificing musical substance.

• Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated pop grooves
• Balancing melodic and accompanying voices in dense orchestrations
• Reading and executing repeated rhythmic figures cleanly
• Understanding how film/contemporary music scoring adapts songs across instrumental families