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Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Jeremy on 1/20/2025, 5:12 pm

Hey everyone,

I’ll keep it quick because we’re all swamped this time of year, but it’s time to get ready for the Fall season...

We all want a LESS STRESSFUL and MORE SUCCESSFUL marching band season, right? The right program coordinator can be a game-changer. As a band director, instructor, judge, and designer, I’ve experienced the marching world from just about every angle. Whether you need full program coordination, a re-themed "stock" show, and/or custom drill design, I’m here to help. Let’s chat!

Check out more at https://www.jeremyloui.com – I’ve got tons of resources there, like free posters, technique exercises, and worksheets for beginner bands!

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Respectfully on 1/21/2025, 9:07 am, in reply to "Marching Band Program Coordination"

The fact that the position of "marching band program coordinator" exists is a testament to how much marching band has taken over our lives and educational priorities.

A HBD should be able to run a marching band, concert band, and their program - and have time for a personal life at home. If they can't, something is taking up way too much time.

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Advocatus diaboli on 1/21/2025, 7:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"
Edited by board administrator 1/24/2025, 11:16 pm

Not the OP, just thinking.

How many other teachers in the building are responsible for creating their curriculum anew every year? My district spends $$$$$ buying pre-packaged curriculum for all of the "core" subjects,
and then pays teachers $$$ to work over the summer adding to and customizing that curriculum. Band directors (and other FA teachers) end up creating so much on their own.
If creating all of that material isn't a strength, or you just want more time to have that personal life at home, maybe this is a service worth considering.

For the record, I don't hire a program coordinator to run my marching band. We're also consistently at the bottom of the Area rankings, so maybe I should.

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Snerk on 1/22/2025, 8:41 am, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"
Edited by board administrator 1/24/2025, 11:19 pm

How much "new curriculum" is a typical HBD creating?

They don't write the wind book, someone else (arranger) does that.

They don't write the drum book either, someone else (Drumline instructor or the book writer) does that.

They don't write the drill, someone else (Drillwriter) does that.

They don't write the routine, someone else (Guard instructor) does that.

They don't create visuals, they have techs for that. They might do *some* here.

All they really have to do is pick out about seven to nine minutes of themed music they want to put on the field. And then hire the right people to do the jobs.

Do they rewrite the stand tunes every year, or just pick them out? (And how many bands turn over their ENTIRE folder year to year, and how many keep the same 5-8 songs
and add 3-4 max per year, plus a few songs added by the drill team that they again, aren't picking out?

After marching season, do they write pieces to add to the PML annually, or choose music written by professional composers? Do they write their own holiday concert music?

So how much curriculum are they really creating? They're taking music that already exists and choosing what to perform. The district is spending $$$$$ buying pre-written
curriculum (music from Penders/Pepper) and having a small amount (drill and show books) written for the band, and the directors work a small amount adding to and customizing that curriculum.
Band directors do NOTHING that another teacher doesn't already do by your own admission.

If you're talking about a smaller show or school where a director *does* do all the marching band stuff by themself,
they're still not going to have the money or inclination to hire a "coordinator" to do it for them.

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Mr. Dude on 1/24/2025, 10:51 am, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"

They don't write the wind book, someone else (arranger) does that. You just let them send you the book and take it as is? There's a whole lot more to that than hiring someone

They don't write the drum book either, someone else (Drumline instructor or the book writer) does that. Again...there's auditions, instrumentation, staging, replacing/tuning heads,

They don't write the drill, someone else (Drillwriter) does that. Yes, I do

They don't write the routine, someone else (Guard instructor) does that. But, I have to give counts and instructions to the choreographer, size the kids for uniforms, get the uniforms ordered and paid for, design flags and get them ordered and paid for, work transitions into the choreography/drill, make sure they get the choreo learned...

They don't create visuals, they have techs for that. They might do *some* here.They might do all here...thank God for Youtube

All they really have to do is pick out about seven to nine minutes of themed music they want to put on the field. And then hire the right people to do the jobs. That took probably about 20 hours of my time last spring...that's no small task

Also I do write new stand tunes every year because there has been garbage coming out lately. I would KILL to be able to hire techs and coordinators and designers and prop builders to sell me $20k in foam. We would LOVE all of that...but it's not in the cards unfortunately.

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Small School on 1/22/2025, 3:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"

Planning a fall production takes quite a bit of time and mental energy.

"Band directors do NOTHING that another teacher doesn't already do..."

Really?

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Snerk on 1/22/2025, 8:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"

Ahem.

Read the last sentence of my post again.

Thanks.

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Small School on 1/24/2025, 12:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"

I did. Many of us are quite inclined to have someone help us with this.

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Respectfully on 1/21/2025, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"

To the OP: I hope you have a lucrative and successful business. I just wish we didn't need it.

Re: Marching Band Program Coordination

Posted by Jeremy on 1/23/2025, 7:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Marching Band Program Coordination"

Hey,
I do appreciate your response! And I get where you’re coming from.

There’s a lot of complexity in our profession (band directors and more broadly all teachers) as well the marching band activity these days. Lots of challenges, complicating factors, community and cultural expectations, and more. And we absolutely need to have conversations about those things, where things are headed and what is best for each school and community. But perhaps a more nuanced discussion, better suited for TMEA, Midwest, etc.

I’m just here cause I like band and to humbly offer to lend a hand to others!

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