Disturbia: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement captures the propulsive energy of the original without requiring excessive technical demands from your ensemble. The score leans into the song's rhythmic foundation and layered riffs, giving every section meaningful material that students genuinely want to play. It's the rare contemporary pop arrangement that sounds polished on the field while remaining accessible to younger bands.

Synth-driven and hypnotic, with a persistent rhythmic pull that propels the band forward. The arrangement inhabits that sweet spot between urban pop production and marching band instrumentation, creating something that sounds modern in the stands while remaining firmly within the ensemble's wheelhouse.

Marching bands at the Grade 2 level looking for contemporary repertoire that feels current and energetic without overreaching technically. Programs seeking an accessible entry into pop arranging that maintains musical integrity and will engage both performers and audiences.

• Lock the rhythmic foundation early in rehearsal. The tutti riffs that define this arrangement depend on precise ensemble articulation, so isolate those sections and drill them as a unit before integrating them into full runs.
• Keep the energy consistent across the bridge. This is where the arrangement typically strips down; resist the urge to drag, and maintain the forward momentum that makes the song work.
• Balance the melodic lines against the riff textures. The hook should sit on top of the background figures without being buried, so clarify who carries what at each moment during sectional work.
• Shape the dynamic arc to match the recorded version. Familiarity works in your favor here, so reference the original track in rehearsal to help students understand where intensity peaks and releases.

This works particularly well on a pregame or halftime show built around contemporary hits that showcase your band's versatility. Pair it with one or two other pop selections to create a program segment that resonates with your audience while demonstrating solid musicianship at an accessible level.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated riff sections
• Stylistic articulation appropriate to pop idiom
• Balancing textural layers within the same ensemble
• Maintaining forward momentum during dynamic valleys