Your last performance is behind you, and right now you remember every spot in the show that never got clean. In a month you won’t. That’s why the best planning for next season happens in the next two or three weeks, before the banquet, concert season and...
Every season, directors pour their hearts into creating marching band shows that tell a story, connect with audiences, and impress the judges. By the time your UIL Area marching band show rolls around, most bands have learned the drill and the...
Marching band shows are more than halftime entertainment or competition performances. They’re the heartbeat of a program, where students learn discipline, teamwork, and resilience in a way that carries far beyond the field. Legendary football coach Nick...
Most directors ask me the same questions after our first conversation, so I wrote down the answers. Jump to the section you need, and if something isn’t covered here, email me at evanvandoren@gmail.com. Sections: Fit and expectations | The music and adaptation |...
Somewhere between the final design tweaks and the first big contest weekend, October sneaks up on you, and marching band season burnout starts creeping in before you notice it. The weeks get shorter, the rehearsals longer, and every director you talk to sounds the...
Directors spend a lot of energy picking the right concept, assuming the theme itself will make students care. I used to think that way too. But I have watched an emotionally rich concept fall flat because of how staff introduced it. I have watched a fairly plain...
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