An American in Paris

• There are articulate passages with sixteenth note patterns which are part of the main melodic motif.
• Some intervallic challenge is present with some moderate leaps also in most cases part of the melodic material.
• Gershwin of course is famous for jazz riffs etc. which may be a bit unfamiliar to younger musicians but these moments do repeat throughout the program and will be very accessible upon practice.
• Some solo opportunities also present as well for the woodwind voice.

• Trumpets and horns have some moderately articulate passages with the same intervallic challenge also found in the woodwind voice...part and parcel of the main melodic motifs.
• All brass ranges are moderate and in many cases on the staff.
• The low brass are scored often in open structure where again some of the chordal structures are jazz oriented and may take a little practice to hear these somewhat sophisticated harmonies.
• There are also several solo and small combo opportunities for your stronger players.

The front ensemble music would be considered around grade 4 (Upper level A-class or lower Open class by WGI classification) due to several quick 2 mallet phrases as well as a few 4 mallet permutations in the marimba and vibraphone voices.  Musical difficulty can be adjusted through the customiztion menu.  Here is a breakdown of the skillsets required for the front ensemble:

Glock/Xylo

• several grace note passages
• Double stopped 8th notes at 132BPM
• 16th note triplet diatonic passages at 124BPM
• 16th note passages at 124 - 152BPM (some with larger leaps)
• 3-mallet quarter note triple stops 

Chimes

• Mostly quarter note, half note, and whole note passages with the occasional grace notes and 8th notes

Vibes

• Grace note figures
• 16th note passages at 124 - 152BPM
• sextuplet chromatic runs at 124BPM
• 8th note based 4-mallet permutations at 124 - 152BPM
• 16th note runs at 152BPM

Marimba

• 4 mallet dead strokes
• Very fast 16th note xylophone licks (with leaping intervals)
• 16th note into 16th note triplets at 124BPM
• Various 8th-note based 4-mallet permutations

Synthesizer

• Piano Patch the entire show
• Mainly used to reinforce mallet parts

Timpani

• many basic quarter note and 8th note rhythms
• Some extended 8th note upbeat passages
• Dotted 8th-sixteenth rhythms at times
• Some pitch changes on the fly required

Auxiliary Percussion

Some traditional "rack percussion parts" with some quasi "trap set" moments throughout.  Very manageable.  List of instruments:

• Splash
• China
• Temple Blocks
• Brake Drums (2)
• Concert Bass Drum
• Tam-Tam
• Crash Cymbals
• Ride Cymbal
• Suspended Cymbal
• High-tom
• Low-Tom
• Concert Snare Drum
• Tambourine
• Congas
• Triangle

The battery music is generally sits at a grade 2 (equivalent of Regional A-Class by WGI standards).  Difficulty level can be adjusted through the customization menu.  Here is a breakdown of the skillsets in each section:

Snare Drums

• Stick Shots
• 16th note triplet single stroke stickings at 124BPM
• Triplet Rolls at 132 - 144BPM
• Flams at various tempi
• 16th note paradiddle stickings at 132 - 144BPM
• Brush implements needed for various parts in the show
• 8th note flam tap rudiments at 152BPM

Tenor Drums

• Contains ALL the same skillsets as the snare drums
• Movement around the drums contains NO sweeps or cross-over patterns

Bass Drums

• Syncopated 8th note and 16th note unison patterns
• Very basic 16th note splits (usually 4 notes per drum)
• Playing with one hand while muffling with the other hand required throughout
• Very basic 8th note splits