The Best of Big and Easy, Volume 2: Bells Book

Story's arrangements cut straight to what makes each tune memorable, stripping away unnecessary complexity while keeping the groove and character intact. For a bells section, this collection offers genuine solo material that sits naturally on the instrument rather than feeling like an afterthought, and the rhythm section support in the full band charts means your mallets get to drive the action.

Energetic, accessible, and endlessly hummable. These are songs people already know and love, which means the bells section gets to deliver instant gratification rather than asking an audience to sit through unfamiliar material. The grooves swing with ease, and the arrangements feel built for celebration rather than struggle.

This collection works for high school marching bands at all competitive levels and non-competitive groups looking for crowd-pleasing material. Bells players who want genuine melodic content beyond basic accompaniment will appreciate charts that give them real responsibility in the mix.

• Nail the articulation in the opening figures of 'Bad to the Bone' and 'Funkytown' to grab the audience immediately; clarity here sets the tone for the whole chart
• Lock the melodic lines with the keyboard/synthesizer in the ballads like 'Blues in the Night' to create warmth rather than competing for space
• Keep the swing feel relaxed and bouncy in tunes like 'Big Noise from Winnetka' and 'Twisting the Night Away'; rushing these charts flattens the groove
• Balance dynamic contrasts carefully in 'Gonna Fly Now' and 'Rawhide' so the bells cut through without dominating the ensemble

This book pairs naturally with your regular competitive marching show repertoire as warm-up material or exhibition numbers between formal pieces. It's also perfect for parades, festivals, and community events where quick preparation and recognizable tunes matter more than complexity.

• Playing consistent articulation across dynamic range
• Balancing melody with rhythm section support in a jazz-influenced context
• Executing swing rhythms accurately
• Reading and executing mallet changes within a single chart
• Responding to ensemble blend cues and adjusting volume accordingly