What Makes You Beautiful: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

John Berry's arrangement captures the propulsive energy of the original without demanding technical virtuosity from your section leaders. Students recognize the tune immediately, which means you skip the "Why are we playing this?" conversation and jump straight into the fun of making it work together.

Bright, propulsive, and infectiously rhythmic. The arrangement channels the driving rock backbone of the original while maintaining the clean, pop sensibility that made the song a global hit.

Jazz ensembles at the middle school and early high school level will find this accessible without feeling condescending. Directors looking to program contemporary pop repertoire that builds ensemble cohesion and technical fundamentals will appreciate how quickly this comes together.

• Nail the rhythmic pocket in the rhythm section early. This arrangement lives in a driving rock feel, so lock the kick and snare pattern before adding harmonic colors.
• Balance the melody line so it cuts through the accompaniment without overpowering the ensemble. The hook needs clarity but not aggression.
• Keep eighth notes crisp and even throughout. The groove depends on tight articulation across all parts.

This works perfectly as a set closer on a jazz concert where you want to send the audience out with energy and leave them smiling. It pairs naturally with other contemporary pop arrangements or serves as a palate cleanser between more complex big band charts.

• Maintaining consistent groove in a rock style
• Reading and executing rhythmic unison in ensemble context
• Balancing melody and accompaniment texture
• Quick score preparation and section independence