I do it the hard way.

I go through JWPepper and set the filter to ME/E and I sift through the whole list. I look for major pop, hiphop, or dance hits or iconic rock songs. I look at the score with my ensemble in mind and pick a list of around 10 songs. I will also include a few we’ve done in the past (longer than 4 years ago so the kids don’t dance the same song twice). Then I send her the list, and have her and her officers pick 4 they want to dance to.

I started doing it this way after my first year when the old drill team sponsor picked 3 APC pieces for kick tunes. We’re a small band and APC tunes are categorically not designed for our level.

It’s a lot of work, but both the band and drill team have been WAY happier and more successful.