You Better Sleigh!: 1st Trombone
By JaRod Hall
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PC-0019595_TN1
$3.00
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Description
This is a winter holiday musical scavenger hunt to discover---how many tunes you can find in this chart? It's a funky swing performed in cut time around 108 BPM. Lead trumpet range is to written G with optional high C. Solos are provided for tenor 1 and trumpet 2. Optional instruments include flute and vibes. You're gonna LOVE this one! (3:30)
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Jazz Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019595_TN1
More about this title
About the Composer: JaRod Hall
JaRod Hall is a Texas-based composer and educator who earned degrees in music education from the University of North Texas and composition/conducting studies at Texas State University. His teachers included leading figures in brass performance, conducting, and composition, grounding his work in both classical rigor and contemporary ensemble writing.
As a band director for eight years, Hall built programs recognized at the state level, including leading Griffin Middle School's non-varsity band to the Citation of Excellence in 2018, the first such honor for a middle school ensemble in Frisco ISD. A versatile performer on tuba and trombone, he appeared with the North Texas Wind Symphony, the 3 O'Clock Lab Band, and earned selection as principal tuba with the Texas State Wind Symphony. His compositions have earned recognition on the Texas Prescribed Music List, J.W. Pepper's Editor's Choice list, and Bandworld's Top 100, and he won the 2020 Dallas Winds Call for Fanfares and the 2021 Barbara Buehlman Prize for middle school band.
Why we love this
Hall wraps a genuine puzzle into the arrangement, challenging your ensemble to recognize and articulate the holiday melodies woven throughout the chart. The funky swing feel and optional high energy solos give soloists room to shine while keeping the ensemble engaged in the hunt itself, making this as much fun to teach as it is to play.
What to expect
Funky, playful, and full of surprises. The cut-time swing lifts the energy beyond typical holiday fare, and each melodic quotation lands like a musical wink, rewarding players who know the standard repertoire while inviting newcomers to discover them for the first time.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the Grade 3 level who have solid command of swing feel and basic comping skills, and who want a holiday program that entertains both performers and audiences. Directors seeking a holiday chart that doubles as a listening game will find this concept fresh and engaging.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the cut-time feel at 108 BPM with a clear ride cymbal pattern; the swing pocket depends on absolute rhythmic confidence from your rhythm section.
- Prep your trumpet section on the written G high point early, and rehearse the optional high C separately so lead trumpet can choose based on ensemble readiness and confidence.
- Highlight the tenor 1 and trumpet 2 solos in sectional rehearsals, encouraging comping from the rest of the section while soloists develop their own voice over the changes.
- Balance the optional flute and vibes carefully in the mix; these colors enhance the arrangement without overwhelming the core funk groove.
How to use it
Use this as a mid-program closer or finale on a holiday concert, especially when programming alongside more straightforward seasonal pieces. The 3:30 duration and accessible difficulty make it ideal for a relaxed December performance where the interactive listening experience adds personality to your setlist.
Skills your students will build
- Swing feel and cut-time interpretation at moderate tempo
- Recognizing and articulating quoted melodic material
- Solo improvisation over jazz changes (tenor 1 and trumpet 2)
- Ensemble balance and blend in funk-based swing style
- Reading and executing optional instrumental parts (flute, vibes)