Player One Press Start (FLEX jazz band and audio track)
for young jazz band and audio track
√ medium-easy difficulty level √ duration: 4:40 √ 4-part FLEX Instrumentation This chart is a unique, multi-media work for 4-part flexible jazz band and audio track. Following the Doug Beach model, this medium-easy work is specifically well-suited for small jazz band programs with limited or unusual instrumentation. Super fun to play and with a professionally produced “video-game-score-esque” accompaniment track, your ensemble will sound great! All rhythm section parts are fully written out and do not require knowledge of comping or reading chord symbols (though chord symbols are still provided during solo changes). The audio track features the nostalgic style and feel of retro video game titles like Tetris, Zelda, Super Mario Brothers, Contra, Pac-man and Dr. Mario. This work was designed for a middle school or first year high school group, and is an adaptation of a work with the same title for grade 2.5 concert band. You can explore the original version here. |
Jazz version recording - coming soon!
But here is the Concert Band version to give you a taste!
This should start at 57:27 timestamp
PERUSAL SCORE

p1ps_jazz_band_perusal.pdf |
PROGRAM NOTE
I can remember first playing video games with my brothers and friends on the Atari my dad bought - Space Invaders and Frogger were a few of my favorites! A few years later we got a Nintendo for Christmas and then a Gameboy which got me hooked on games like Mario Bros, Zelda, Tetris, Dr. Mario, Contra and Donkey Kong. Even after all these years, those early 8-bit games still have a very special place in my heart. (It was very hard for me not to list twenty or thirty more of my favorite games here...) Even now, in 2022 I enjoy playing Rally-X, Pac-man or Final Fantasy when taking a break from work. (haha! I snuck a few more game titles into this program note!) So why not combine my love of retro games and their simplistic yet catchy soundtracks with my love of writing for young jazz ensembles? My answer: Player One Press Start. I hope this piece brings back great memories of problem solving and exploration, finding and sharing new moves in Mortal Combat or Sonic, all while consuming way too much junk food during late night summer sleep-overs. Who knew that a few blips and bleeps could bring back so much nostalgia and fun!? “Here we go!”
I can remember first playing video games with my brothers and friends on the Atari my dad bought - Space Invaders and Frogger were a few of my favorites! A few years later we got a Nintendo for Christmas and then a Gameboy which got me hooked on games like Mario Bros, Zelda, Tetris, Dr. Mario, Contra and Donkey Kong. Even after all these years, those early 8-bit games still have a very special place in my heart. (It was very hard for me not to list twenty or thirty more of my favorite games here...) Even now, in 2022 I enjoy playing Rally-X, Pac-man or Final Fantasy when taking a break from work. (haha! I snuck a few more game titles into this program note!) So why not combine my love of retro games and their simplistic yet catchy soundtracks with my love of writing for young jazz ensembles? My answer: Player One Press Start. I hope this piece brings back great memories of problem solving and exploration, finding and sharing new moves in Mortal Combat or Sonic, all while consuming way too much junk food during late night summer sleep-overs. Who knew that a few blips and bleeps could bring back so much nostalgia and fun!? “Here we go!”
Purchase Options
Please click in the field below to select PDF or hard copy purchase options. Then provide band director name, email address, and School/Institution name and click "Add to Cart." All hard copy options include free shipping to continental USA.
Purchase of score and parts will also include a link to download the performance audio track.
For all other payment arrangements, please email [email protected]
For all other payment arrangements, please email [email protected]
Concert Band version was Commissioned by
Mt. Vernon High School - Fortville, IN. Michael Ahearn, Director.
Consortium Director
Cedar Hill Middle School - Victoria, B.C., Canada. Cindy Romphf, Director.
Beyond The Notes Music Festival, Inc. Chris Gleason, Director.
Saline Middle School - Saline, MI. Rebekah Allmand, Benjamin Reed, Directors.
North Crawford High School - Soldiers Grove, WI. Derrik Junker, Director.
Clay City Jr/Sr High School - Clay City, IN. Matt Harvey, Director.
Galena Park Middle School - Galena Park, TX. Justin Allen, Brandon Rios, Directors.
Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek - Hartland, MI. Joe Guarr, Director.
Center Grove Middle School Central - Greenwood, IN. Dan Herrick, Director.
Wydown Middle School - Clayton, MO. Jennifer Shenberger, Tricia Holm, Directors.
Lakeland Preparatory School - Lakeland, TN. Brent Hopper, Micaiah Radcliffe, Directors.
Paradise Valley High School - Phoenix, AZ. Ryan Diefenderfer, Director.
Smith Middle School - Cleburne, TX. Matthew Hiller, Tanner Carter, Matt Bibb, Directors.
West Aurora High School - Aurora, IL. John Sierakowski, Director.
Kentucky Wesleyan College - Owensboro, KY. Dr. Patrick Stuckemeyer, Director.
Grafton High School - Grafton, WI. Joseph Brown, Director.
La Porte High School - La Porte, IN. Joe Clark, Matt Sullivan, Directors.
Prairie Ridge High School - Crystal Lake, IL. Marykate Kuhne, Director.
Northeastern High School - Springfield, OH. Guthrie Douglas, Director.
Sutton Middle/High School - Sutton, MA. Justin Falvo, Director.
Manheim Central Middle and High Schools - Manheim, PA. John Brackbill, Karl Segletes and Alex Schweizer, Directors.
Oyster Bay High School - Oyster Bay, NY. Matthew Sisia, Director.
Chesterton Middle School - Chesterton, IN. Vince Arizzi, Joe Nuzzo, Directors.
San José State University - San José, CA. Dr. David Vickerman, Director.
Kawananakoa Middle School - Honolulu, HI. Guy Avery Lum Jr., Director.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School - Palo Alto, CA. Mark Dungan, Director.
Garrett High School - Garrett, IN. Josh Hettinger, Director.
Leawood Middle School - Leawood, KS. Michael Solomon, Director.
Elkhorn North High School - Elkhorn, NE. Matthew Rom, Director.
Plainfield Community Middle School - Plainfield, IN. Erika Stepp, Director.
Rochester High School - Rochester Hills, MI. David Uhrig, Director.
Wiesbaden High School (DoDEA) - USAG Wiesbaden, Germany. Andrew M. Goldie, Director.
Burlington High School - Burlington, MA. Sean Buchsbaum, Director.
Century High School - Bismarck, ND. Chris Dasovick, Erik Stordalen, Directors.
Jackson Creek Middle School - Bloomington, IN. Joe Donnelly, Director.
Batchelor MS - Bloomington, IN. Joel Brainard, Director.
Consortium Members
Mt. Vernon High School - Fortville, IN. Michael Ahearn, Director.
Consortium Director
Cedar Hill Middle School - Victoria, B.C., Canada. Cindy Romphf, Director.
Beyond The Notes Music Festival, Inc. Chris Gleason, Director.
Saline Middle School - Saline, MI. Rebekah Allmand, Benjamin Reed, Directors.
North Crawford High School - Soldiers Grove, WI. Derrik Junker, Director.
Clay City Jr/Sr High School - Clay City, IN. Matt Harvey, Director.
Galena Park Middle School - Galena Park, TX. Justin Allen, Brandon Rios, Directors.
Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek - Hartland, MI. Joe Guarr, Director.
Center Grove Middle School Central - Greenwood, IN. Dan Herrick, Director.
Wydown Middle School - Clayton, MO. Jennifer Shenberger, Tricia Holm, Directors.
Lakeland Preparatory School - Lakeland, TN. Brent Hopper, Micaiah Radcliffe, Directors.
Paradise Valley High School - Phoenix, AZ. Ryan Diefenderfer, Director.
Smith Middle School - Cleburne, TX. Matthew Hiller, Tanner Carter, Matt Bibb, Directors.
West Aurora High School - Aurora, IL. John Sierakowski, Director.
Kentucky Wesleyan College - Owensboro, KY. Dr. Patrick Stuckemeyer, Director.
Grafton High School - Grafton, WI. Joseph Brown, Director.
La Porte High School - La Porte, IN. Joe Clark, Matt Sullivan, Directors.
Prairie Ridge High School - Crystal Lake, IL. Marykate Kuhne, Director.
Northeastern High School - Springfield, OH. Guthrie Douglas, Director.
Sutton Middle/High School - Sutton, MA. Justin Falvo, Director.
Manheim Central Middle and High Schools - Manheim, PA. John Brackbill, Karl Segletes and Alex Schweizer, Directors.
Oyster Bay High School - Oyster Bay, NY. Matthew Sisia, Director.
Chesterton Middle School - Chesterton, IN. Vince Arizzi, Joe Nuzzo, Directors.
San José State University - San José, CA. Dr. David Vickerman, Director.
Kawananakoa Middle School - Honolulu, HI. Guy Avery Lum Jr., Director.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School - Palo Alto, CA. Mark Dungan, Director.
Garrett High School - Garrett, IN. Josh Hettinger, Director.
Leawood Middle School - Leawood, KS. Michael Solomon, Director.
Elkhorn North High School - Elkhorn, NE. Matthew Rom, Director.
Plainfield Community Middle School - Plainfield, IN. Erika Stepp, Director.
Rochester High School - Rochester Hills, MI. David Uhrig, Director.
Wiesbaden High School (DoDEA) - USAG Wiesbaden, Germany. Andrew M. Goldie, Director.
Burlington High School - Burlington, MA. Sean Buchsbaum, Director.
Century High School - Bismarck, ND. Chris Dasovick, Erik Stordalen, Directors.
Jackson Creek Middle School - Bloomington, IN. Joe Donnelly, Director.
Batchelor MS - Bloomington, IN. Joel Brainard, Director.
Consortium Members
Here is a quick little video demo for the "blow air" technique I want in measures 3-7 in the winds.
https://youtu.be/c6HoWQSa-uQ
https://youtu.be/c6HoWQSa-uQ
Photo attribution: Flickr.com "Gameboy" from Gehirnfussel. Used with permission under creative commons license 2.0
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