We Are Young: Concert Band Conductor Score

Beginners actually sound polished and confident playing this one. The drum introduction immediately establishes energy and forward momentum, and once your students lock into the main melody, they experience the satisfaction of performing a recognizable, radio-friendly chart that sounds far more advanced than the Grade 1 difficulty level suggests.

Youthful and anthemic. The piece carries the infectious optimism of the original recording while staying transparent and accessible; every student hears their part matter. There's an underlying emotional sincerity beneath the pop sheen that keeps the piece from feeling trivial.

Beginning concert band students who benefit from playing music that resonates with contemporary popular culture. This arrangement works equally well for directors seeking approachable material that doesn't sound or feel simplified, and for ensembles at schools where connecting repertoire to students' musical lives strengthens engagement.

• Lock the drum introduction to a steady pulse before adding the band. Have the percussionist(s) nail that opening figure so the ensemble has a rhythmic anchor when they enter.
• Balance the melody across voices so it projects clearly without overwhelming the accompaniment. In Grade 1 writing, the main idea is often doubled, so subtle dynamic shaping between sections creates shape.
• Maintain the power ballad character by sustaining legato phrasing through the slower sections. The indie pop texture depends on singing tone quality, not just rhythmic accuracy.
• Work the recorded accompaniment track into sectionals so students hear how their parts fit within the full production. The original recording provides crucial context for style and energy.

Program this early in the season when your beginning band is still building fundamental skills. It's equally at home in a winter or spring concert celebrating contemporary music, or paired with other pop arrangements that frame a thematic set about music across genres. The 2:30 runtime makes it ideal for filling a meaningful slot without dominating concert length.

• Playing with infectious rhythmic precision in a contemporary pop context
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across multiple voices
• Sustaining legato phrasing in slower sections of a power ballad
• Responding to dynamic direction in a character-driven arrangement
• Matching style and articulation to indie pop and alternative rock idioms