By Tim Hinton
A new client walks into his school’s main office to request the use of his funds for custom marching band arrangements. Since he is new to the school and more ambitious than his predecessors, his administrators are nonplussed that he is requesting so much money for marching music. “Can’t you use last year’s music?” “What’s wrong with the music they sell at the music store?”
Alas, today’s band director already serves as teacher, counselor, janitor, adviser, designer, musician, conductor, set-up crew, heavy lifter, parent negotiator, and athletic supporter. But he or she must also now be a Big Time Salesman!
As this new director was asking for my advice, I jotted down a list of reasons why any marching band would benefit from arrangements written especially for their band and students. Here are a few of those reasons:
Music written especially for your group has been shown time and again to make the group more successful. Tailoring the music directly to your students and their abilities will allow them to sound better faster and make the overall show more successful. I have years of proof to back this up.
Your students will have a better educational opportunity with these special arrangements and will learn more and grow more as musicians and performers. Music tailored to their strengths and needs will allow you to teach more effectively. These are not “off the shelf” arrangements but are written by a professional composer to fit the needs of your students and teach them special skills. My clients find that they have things to teach and work on the entire season and don’t get as tired of the music (if at all) when playing these special arrangements.
The band program will be more successful and grow more quickly with the success afforded by these arrangements. The band will look and sound better, which will help other students want to be a part of the band. The band’s show will also be better received by the audience and judges which will also aid in the reputation of the band program, the band director, the students, and THE SCHOOL in general. Everyone benefits by a more successful product.
Audiences will respond to the show and enjoy it more. It has been proven that a well conceived and well written program is more enjoyable by the general public. A more effective show will engage the audience and give them something they will like to watch over and over at ballgames.
Your show will be unique. Nothing is worse than seeing the same thing from every band. Your school, students, and parents will know that they have a show that is special and unique to you. This helps to set you apart and shows the community that you are serious about the band program and giving the students an experience of the highest quality.
Every administrator wants every part of their school to be successful and reflect positively on the school in general. I have never seen a successful band program that did not make the administration and entire school look better and have a better reputation.
The money spent is in line with other top programs. If your administration is balking at the price, share with them the amount that other programs are spending. It’s very likely that your budget is quite modest compared to many groups.
You have hired one of the best in the business. To toot my own horn, I have a national reputation and have written for groups at the highest level of BOA and State competitions, with many state championships and BOA Finalists in my resume. You want to give your students the best and I think a product I give you has the benefit of coming from someone at the top of the activity. Who would not want their school and students to have this opportunity?
So that’s my list of very good reasons to hire a composer / arranger and have music written especially for your group. The expense and trouble involved will pay off in huge dividends for your students and your program. Invest wisely in great music and watch great things happen!