With Pleasure: Concert Band, Score and Parts

Sousa's ragtime works deserve more programming time than they typically receive, and Schissel's arrangement captures the infectious playfulness of the original. The piece radiates joy without sacrificing musical substance, giving advanced bands a closing number that lands as confidently as any march but with entirely different character. Audiences respond immediately to its syncopated charm.

Infectious and buoyant, with the irresistible swagger of early twentieth-century American popular music. Ragtime syncopations dance against straightforward harmonic backings, creating rhythmic vitality that makes sitting still nearly impossible. The piece exudes confidence and charm, delivering the kind of genuine entertainment that reminds audiences why live band music endures.

Advanced concert bands (Grade 3 level) looking for a sophisticated encore that serves both musical growth and audience engagement. Bands comfortable with syncopation and capable of executing crisp ensemble articulation will find this role rewarding. Directors seeking repertoire beyond march tradition will value its place in concert programming.

• Keep the ensemble rhythmically tight through syncopated passages. Ragtime style depends on crisp articulation and coordinated ensemble attacks; underrehearse the rhythm and clarity suffers dramatically.
• Shape the piece with subtle dynamic swell rather than hitting every contrast as a sudden fortissimo. Ragtime thrives on conversation between sections, not stark contrasts.
• Encourage winds to voice their parts with lightness, especially in the upper register. The delightful quality of the piece evaporates if the band sounds heavy or legit.
• Balance the low brass and percussion carefully during ragtime figures. They drive the groove, but overweighting them buries the melodic wit happening above.

Program this as a concert closer when you want to send the audience home smiling and energized rather than contemplative. It pairs beautifully after more substantial or serious works, offering a tonal shift that feels earned rather than jarring. The piece also works effectively in pops concerts or community engagement settings where Sousa's name recognition and this piece's accessibility create immediate connection.

• Reading and executing ragtime syncopation with precision
• Balancing brightness and clarity in upper woodwind voicings
• Coordinating rhythmically complex figures across the ensemble
• Maintaining clarity and articulation at moderate to quick tempos
• Ensemble balance when melodic material distributes across sections