Show Planning

1
Show Planning

• K-State, Marching Band Tech

2
Guidelines

• Organize to Optimize - Plan well in advance.
• Meet with your staff in the Spring. Dinner works
  well for this initial meeting.
• If you are getting a custom show with custom
  arrangements you need to get stuff set in Winter
  to give arrangers and drill writers plenty of
  time.
• Have a vision and SELL your show! Everyone will
  have to live with this show for a while...

3
Music

• Published vs. Custom
• With either one, think if the music will fit your
  band and your budget.
• Package shows available from msconcepts.com or
  crsolutions.biz
• Elements of Quality Music - good
  colors/orchestration, dynamic shape, clear
  articulations, layers, you can see the drill in
  your mind, Key centers utilized for wind
  resonance, challenging but achievable,
  Entertaining?

4
Music and Theme

• The show must make sense from beginning to end -
  What is going to tie the show together?
• Music to fit a theme or a theme to fit the music.
  What is most cohesive? What make sense for the
  audience? What makes sense for the judges?
• Maybe use the online package sites as a starting
  point for creativity or a custom show
• Brainstorm with the visual staff and even band
  leadership. We is more creative than me.

5
Key Concepts for Music Selection

• MUSIC IS MOST IMPORTANT! NO EXCEPTIONS!
• Dont pick something different for the sake of
  being different.
• At the same time think will everyone be playing
  this arrangement this year? Glee as an example...
• Think audience.... but also think kids and
  parents. Educational value....
• Can I TEACH with this?
• TEMPOS!

6
GNDN

• Goes Nowhere, Does Nothing........
• Your show must make sense from beginning to end
• Show needs direction, hit points, moments of
  tension, moments of relaxation
• Variety High level of effect
• Melody is important!!! How will you feature this?

7
Show Planning

• Reference page 111 and 112 in your books
• What is captivating about your show. Can you see
  it?
• Beginning and Ending!!!!!!!
• Fresh Show good music, woodwind/technical
  moments, Brass sonority moment, percussion
  featured (not isolated), Guard and visual
  moments, Solos and sections featured
• Marching Band is the Art of the Obvious

8
Segments

• Opener, Production Number, Ballad, Closer
• Opener - Catches attention, sets a mood, ending
  is not the biggest moment of show....
• Production Number - variety, colors, soloists,
  sections, guard, flexible
• Ballad - Not too long, expressive, tone,
  lyrical, melodic, visual feature
• Closer - Satisfying conclusion, up-tempo, Big
  Ending!

9
Analyze

• Unit study on all your scores
• Detailed musical, phrase, harmonic,
  orchestration, melodic analysis.
• Think about balancing the band. You can do this
  with your drill..... More on that later....
• Keep your staff accountable in show planning with
  a specific timeline (pg. 113)

10
Small Band Solutions

• Think music first!!! Instrumentation, musical
  elements
• Reduce field size and usage. Frame the band with
  props or tarps (old winter guard floors?) Keep
  things front and center.
• No room to hide - fundamentals must be SOLID!!!
• Integrate guard in forms and use bright colors!!
• Avoid Ballads.
• Think balance with percussion. Synthesizer or
  electric bass?