Munchkin Dance - Robert Clayson [DIGITAL]

Munchkin Dance is written for a core ensemble of six players, with an additional 5 parts available that do not use more than one of the standard mallet percussion instruments. To make the piece even more accessible, the core percussion parts can all be played by using different pieces of a drum set.

Genre: Flex Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 6-11
Series: Ignite Series
Level: Medium Easy | Duration: 2:10

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)

Required for Performance
Xylophone
Vibraphone
Marimba 1: 4-octave, treble clef
Percussion 1: Snare Drum
Percussion 2: Kick Drum (laid flat), Hi-Hat
Percussion 3: 3 Concert Toms, Crash Cymbal

Bonus Parts
Bells
Chimes
Marimba 2: 4-octave, bass clef
Timpani: 4 drums
Percussion 4: Tam-Tam (Gong), Tambourine

Program Notes
Throughout my time as an educator, one of the most frequent requests I receive from non-percussionist music teachers is to recommend pieces that will work for a flex percussion ensemble but also will work on a normal concert band concert without any specialized setup. Munchkin Dance is written for a core ensemble of six players, with an additional 5 parts available that do not use more than one of the standard mallet percussion instruments (which is often a challenge for programs wanting to perform larger percussion ensemble pieces). To make the piece even more accessible, the core percussion parts can all be played by using different pieces of a drum set. I hope that the idea of writing for a percussion ensemble in a traditional concert band setup will become more of a standard practice for composers writing for beginning to intermediate middle school and high school students.

Programmatically, Munchkin Dance is about game nights I had with percussionist friends during our graduate studies at Indiana University. These nights would always be filled with aggression as everyone tried to win every game that we played- as well as really bad dancing whenever someone secured a victory. As I make my way through my professional career, I am learning more and more every day how important it is to take time to just laugh and enjoy life. “Munchkin Dance” will hopefully help your students enjoy playing percussion all the more.

– R.C.

The IGNITE Series
This unique series was designed specifically for young percussionists as they experience the magic of playing in a percussion ensemble. Each piece provides the director and students with great flexibility – from the number of players to the tempo to the instrumentation.
Light a fire under your students today!