1. Music for Marching Band
Tips for the New Arranger

2. The Process
Song Selection
Dictation
Instrumentation
Presentation

3. Song Selection Pick with passion Stay for the music, not the lyrics
Popular is safe
Surprises are risk/reward
Linkin Park to Antonin Dvorak

4. Dictation It’s a talent, but you can improve it Pare down the song
Don’t assign instruments straight away
4 Parts
Melody/Harmony
Counter-Melody
Background Chords
Bass Line

5. Resources Guitar Chord Websites Songbooks Acoustic/Classical Versions
A Capella Covers
Karaoke Versions

6. Instrumentation
Who gets what?
Know the ranges
Weigh the numbers

7. Part Assignments Melody Counter-Melody Background Chords Bass Line
Trumpets, Trombones
Counter-Melody
Clarinets, Altos, Mellos, Tenors
Background Chords
Bass Line
Tubas & Euphs

8. Ranges Clarinets- Low G to High C (Bb-B Break)
Saxes (Any)- Low D to High D
Mellos- Low C to High G
Trumpets- Low Bb to High Bb
Trombones- Middle Bb to High F
Euphoniums- Middle Bb to High Bb
Tubas- Low Bb to Middle D

9. Formatting Fit it on ONE page Delete “Subtitle”
Use multi-measure rests
Landscape parts are usually best
Pick a playable key
Use rehearsal marks
Check and double-check

10. Questions?