** Note: Marches arranged from Easy to Difficult **

Balloon Parade - Beginner Band

Balloon Parade is a march-like, joyful beginning band tune. It utilizes the first five notes in various combinations and patterns, creating harmonies between the different sections. Each instrument section gets a chance at the melody and melodic-like passages. The brass and woodwinds only have half/quarter notes and rests. Only the percussion (snare, tambourine) has eighth note rhythms. This piece would be a great addition to a first year concert, or just as a learning piece when getting used to playing music with the full ensemble. 

pepper $40
​(digital or print)

smp $30
​(digital)

Marching Along - Beginner Band

This is a beginning band composition that utilizes the first five notes learned (in the typical band method). It also correlates with Foundation Warm-Ups 1. It is an optimistic, joyful piece complete with melodies passed around from group to group. There is a mixture of instrument combinations to help young players hear each section and how they can combine to make different timbres. Sometimes it's high voices vs. low voices, sometimes its brass vs. woodwinds. Though it may be too early to get into the specific techniques of "march style" for players this young, this piece is definitely march-like and will be a good intro to the type of piece.

Purchase on pepper $40

purchase on Smp $30

Woodland March - Very Easy

Woodland March is a concert march for young band. It is in the key of Bb, beginning with an upper woodwind and snare drum “duet,” a nod to the drum and fife days. The rest of the band then joins for essentially an AABA form. The piece modulates to Eb major for the B section (without changing the key signature), then back to Bb for the end. Woodland March uses basic rhythms and limited range, perfect for a young band to begin learning and mastering “march style.”

smp $30
​(digital only)

pepper $40
(print or digital)

Lawson's Fork March - Very Easy

Lawson's Fork March is a straight-forward march for young (1st to 2nd year typically) bands. It would be a great first piece to start learning "march style." It has simple, accessible melodies, accompanied by the idiomatic low brass (all in unison) and percussion engine. It starts in the key of Eb and modulates to Ab, however it only uses accidentals and doesn't actually change the key signature. I titled the march after Lawson's Fork Creek which I often stroll alongside. This creek and the trails nearby were a tremendous refuge for me during Covid.

smp $30
​(digital only)

Pepper $40
​(print & digital)

Baseball March - Medium Easy

This piece is a re-working on "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" into a young band march. Enjoy the classic melodies and harmonies in a new way! Then buy peanuts and Cracker Jacks for the entire band! And play band baseball!

Pepper $40
(print & Digital)

SMP $30
​(digital only)

Compton Bridge March - Medium

The drive on Compton Bridge Road in Inman, South Carolina is stunningly beautiful. The rolling hills extend as far as the eye can see. The sunset is especially breathtaking, as the warm rays of the sun envelop the hills. I often take this route on my way to North Carolina and feel that it looks like Copland sounds. So when my good friend Kevin Horton asked me to write a concert march for his band, I knew I wanted to weave in the beauty of where his school resides. I opted to write what I’m calling a “pastoral” march, using harmonies and melodies that evoke a sense of Americana. I especially went for lushness in the trio-like section. Lastly, this is definitely not a traditional march, but it contains all of the elements needed to teach march style and form… a great way to change things up!

pepper $45
​Print or digital

SMP $45
​digital only

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