Band Scores & Parts

About Band Scores & Parts

Many challenges are faced when playing demanding musical arrangements, which is why printed band scores are essential resource material for concert, jazz, pep and marching bands. Band scores are designed for different grade levels depending on a musician's age and abilities (0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 and 5). As a player gets more accustomed to their instrument and more comfortable with simpler compositions, they can move up to a higher level, which is usually decided by their band teacher. With that being said, today's line of band scores and parts aren’t only for classroom settings. Professional musicians agree that any band student who wants to improve their musicianship should own a decent collection of band scores.

Band scores are available for every band instrument, including: the saxophone, clarinet, trombone, trumpet, tuba, French horn, euphonium and violin. Concert band collections typically contain classic works from legendary composers like George Gershwin and Igor Stravinsky. There are also books for concert bands that feature music from famous movies like The Hobbit and Man of Steel. For jazz musicians, band scores can range from compilations of iconic jazz masters (Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, etc.) to Christmas favorites for vocal soloists and ensembles. As for marching/pep bands, scores can include top-40 hits like "Call Me Maybe" and "Twist and Shout" (a marching band scene made famous in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), and even sports stadium staples like "Wipe Out", "Proud Mary" and "The Star Spangled Banner". Some respected music education publishers that specialize in band scores for every band application are Hal Leonard, Alfred, Carl Fischer and CL Barnhouse.