If you’re a Band Director chasing high-level results with your ensemble, your journey has more in common with an Olympic athlete than you think. In fact, when Alexi Pappas shared her coach’s “Rule of Thirds” — you feel good a third of the time, okay a third, and lousy a third while chasing a big dream — it struck a direct chord with how many of our best marching band shows are built.
Applying the Rule of Thirds to Marching Band Shows
1. Feel Good: Celebrate Wins
In the rhythm of marching band season, there will be those moments when everything clicks — section locks, visuals hit, audience responds. Celebrate them. These are the “feel good” thirds.
2. OK: The Maintenance Zone
This third is steady work: rehearsals go well, routines grow cleaner, the band stays engaged. You’re not sprinting, but you’re moving forward. If you’re never here, you might be oscillating between fatigue and burnout.
3. Lousy: Embrace the Struggle
This is where growth happens. On the days when fatigue sets in, when weather bites, when parts fall apart and you question your plan — that’s the “lousy” third. Not failure — but sign you’re pushing the edge.
Why This Framework Matters for Marching Band Shows
- Prevents burnout: If you’re always in the “feel good” or “lousy” zones without the steady “OK”, you’ll hit mental or physical walls.
- Keeps ambition in check: You’ll challenge your band without overwhelming them — growth comes from smart stress + recovery, not relentless pressure.
- Leads to better design and execution: When you build in this balance, your “marching band shows” have the time to mature, hit clarity, and deliver performance-confidence, not just spectacle.
For deeper rehearsal and design strategies, check out 7 Strategies to Upgrade Your Marching Band’s Performance on my site.
Practical Steps for Directors
- Track the thirds: At the end of each week, ask: “Did we feel good, OK, or lousy — and why?” Use that data to adjust your plan.
- Build smart rest: On the “OK” or “lousy” weeks, schedule intentional recovery: light rehearsal, watch video, student-led feedback.
- Celebrate the “feel good”: Recognize your band’s wins — not just contest trophies, but growth markers (clean level transitions, student leadership, dynamic contrast). For ideas on student-lead reflection, see Let Your Students Take Risks!
- Design for growth-phases: In your show planning, allocate blocks for risk, refinement, mastery. A “lousy” phase might involve trying something new; the “OK” phase builds stability; the “feel good” phase shows it off.
FAQs
Why use athletic principles for marching band shows?
Because the best marching band shows are built on endurance, resilience, teamwork, and peak execution — the same ingredients athletes train for. This framework gives you a language and structure to lead your program with intentional balance.
What if my season feels mostly “lousy”?
That’s okay — it means you’re pushing. But it’s unsustainable. Use that signal to dial back a bit: shorter rehearsal blocks, more student-led segments, focus on fundamentals. Then shift toward “OK”.
Can I apply this outside of contest season?
Yes. Use it during fall rehearsal, winter concert prep, or spring tour. The thirds apply to any long-haul program with build-up and climax phases.
Where can I find more insights on high-performance design for marching band shows?
- The Ultimate Guide to Selecting Music for Your High School Marching Band Show — delve into music-choice strategy.
- Beyond the Field: How Marching Band Shapes Personal Growth and Skills — explore how the experience builds more than performance.
- External: Research on periodization in athletics (ex: strength & conditioning journals) gives strong parallels for our rehearsal cycles.
Evan VanDoren
Composer and educator helping directors craft marching band shows that perform like championships and grow like programs.
evanvandoren.com
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