How to Choose Big Band Arrangements: A Complete Guide for Band Directors
Choosing the right big band arrangements can make or break your ensemble's performance. This guide covers difficulty levels, instrumentation, style, and budget considerations.
Introduction
Selecting the right big band arrangements is one of the most important decisions a band director makes. The wrong choice can frustrate musicians, bore audiences, or simply not fit your ensemble's capabilities. The right choice, however, can inspire your musicians, excite your audience, and take your ensemble to the next level.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to consider when choosing big band sheet music.
Understanding Difficulty Grades
Most publishers use a grade system from 1 to 6 (or sometimes 1 to 5):
| Grade | Level | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Very Easy | Beginning middle school bands |
| 2 | Easy | Middle school, early high school |
| 3 | Medium Easy | High school, community bands |
| 4 | Medium | Advanced high school, college |
| 5 | Medium Difficult | College, semi-professional |
| 6 | Difficult | Professional ensembles |
Key tip: Always choose arrangements that are slightly below your ensemble's maximum capability. Musicians perform better when they're comfortable with the notes and can focus on expression and style.
Instrumentation Considerations
Standard big band instrumentation is:
- Saxophones: 2 altos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone
- Trumpets: 4 (sometimes 5)
- Trombones: 3 (sometimes 4) + 1 bass trombone
- Rhythm section: Piano, bass, drums, guitar
Before purchasing, check:
- Does the arrangement require all standard parts?
- Are there optional parts for missing instruments?
- Does it include a conductor score?
Matching Style to Your Ensemble
Different styles require different skills:
Swing is the most accessible style for developing bands. The rhythmic feel is forgiving, and the vocabulary is well-established.
Latin jazz (bossa nova, mambo) requires a strong rhythm section with authentic feel. Don't attempt this until your rhythm section is solid.
Bebop demands technical proficiency from all soloists. Reserve these for advanced ensembles.
Ballads are excellent for developing tone and expression, but require mature musicianship to avoid sounding boring.
Budget and Value
When evaluating cost, consider:
- Price per performance: A $60 arrangement used 20 times costs $3 per performance
- PDF downloads (like Jazz Band Library) offer instant access and unlimited reprints
- Bundles often provide significant savings for directors building a library
Recommended Starting Repertoire
For a high school band building its library, we recommend:
- 2-3 medium-swing charts (Grade 3)
- 1-2 ballads (Grade 2-3)
- 1 Latin chart (Grade 3)
- 1 blues chart (Grade 2-3)
- 1 feature chart for your best soloist
Conclusion
The best big band arrangement is one that challenges your musicians appropriately, fits your instrumentation, matches your audience's expectations, and excites everyone in the room. Take time to preview arrangements before purchasing — most professional publishers, including Jazz Band Library, offer preview pages.
Browse our Big Band catalog [blocked] to find the perfect arrangements for your ensemble.