True Colors: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Tom Kelly / By Billy Steinberg / As performed by Cyndi Lauper / Arranged by Michael Brown
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK00157587
$60.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| True Colors - Conductor Score (Full Score) | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Flute | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Oboe | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bassoon | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bb Clarinet 1 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bb Clarinet 2 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bb Clarinet 3 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Eb Alto Clarinet | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bb Bass Clarinet | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Eb Alto Saxophone 1 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Eb Alto Saxophone 2 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bb Tenor Saxophone | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Eb Baritone Saxophone | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bb Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Bb Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - F Horn | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Trombone | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Baritone B.C. | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Baritone T.C. | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Tuba | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Convertible Bass Line | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Percussion 1 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Percussion 2 | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Mallet Percussion | $6.00 | |
| True Colors - Timpani | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This hauntingly beautiful ballad first recorded by Cyndi Lauper in 1986 has remained popular through the years, and was featured in the first season of the TV series "Glee." A great-sounding change of pace that works well for band. Dur: 2:45
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00157587
More about this title
About the Composer: Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly co-wrote some of the most enduring pop songs of the 1980s and beyond, including "True Colors" with Billy Steinberg. His work as a songwriter demonstrates a gift for crafting melodies that resonate across generations and media formats, from radio hits to film and television placements.
Kelly's compositions have shown remarkable staying power in educational settings, particularly when adapted for young ensembles. His understanding of what makes a song memorable translates effectively into arrangements that keep student musicians engaged without overwhelming them technically.
Why we love this
Cyndi Lauper's original sits at that sweet spot where pop accessibility meets genuine emotional depth. Michael Brown's Grade 2 arrangement preserves every bit of that sincerity while keeping the technical demands reasonable, so your band can focus entirely on singing the melody and shaping the phrasing rather than wrestling with the notes.
What to expect
Intimate and reflective, with the kind of quiet strength that commands a concert hall's full attention. The arrangement lets the melody breathe over a gentle harmonic foundation, creating space for genuine musical expression rather than technical display.
Who it's for
Bands seeking a mature-sounding ballad at Grade 2 that doesn't require months of rehearsal to sound polished. This works equally well for groups new to playing popular music and for ensembles looking to balance their concert programs with something emotionally grounded.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat the melody as a vocal line throughout. Even though it's written for instruments, thinking of it as a song your players need to sing will immediately improve tone quality and phrase shape.
- Pay close attention to dynamics and the spaces between phrases. At 2:45, this piece has breathing room that matters; rushing through or under-shaping the softer sections flattens the emotional arc.
- Let the recorded accompaniment support your rehearsals, but encourage musicians to listen for when they carry the melody independently. This builds confidence in a Grade 2 setting.
How to use it
Pair this with contrasting pieces on a concert to showcase your band's range. Its two and three-quarter minute duration makes it ideal as a centerpiece ballad in a program that moves between energetic openers and finales, or as a powerful closing statement before a final dramatic work.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining legit legato phrasing over longer musical lines
- Dynamic control and shaping within a narrow dynamic range
- Balance and blend when accompanying a melody line
- Interpreting emotional intention in a non-classical context
- Ensemble precision at slower tempos