Break My Heart: Marching Band Conductor Score

Doug Adams nails the disco-funk groove here without overcomplicating the parts. Your students will recognize the tune immediately, which builds confidence and engagement, while the Grade 2 level means everyone actually gets to play something satisfying rather than sitting out. It's the kind of arrangement that makes a band sound polished in under three minutes.

Infectious and energetic, with that unmistakable disco-funk pulse that makes people move. The arrangement captures Dua Lipa's pop sensibility while keeping the instrumentation lean and punchy, so the groove drives forward without sounding cluttered or dated.

Any marching band looking for contemporary repertoire that excites students and audiences alike. This works equally well for programs serving middle school bands beginning to explore non-traditional marching material and high school groups seeking a crowd-pleasing halftime moment.

• Lock the hi-hat and kick drum pattern early in rehearsals; this disco-funk foundation holds everything together, and once it's solid, the rest of the band settles in naturally.
• Shape the brass figures with a slight swing feel in the funk sections to capture that groove without losing clarity.
• Keep the woodwind counterlines bright but subservient to the melody; they color the texture rather than compete for attention.

Drop this into your spring or summer concert as a second-half closer; it resets the energy after heavier literature and sends the audience out smiling. The 2:11 runtime also makes it ideal for halftime shows or pep band situations where you need impact without length.

• Articulating funk rhythms with precision and consistency
• Maintaining groove-based ensemble cohesion across sections
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in pop-style arrangements
• Managing syncopated rhythmic figures at performance tempo