Havana: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Hot, confident, and infectious. The Latin-infused groove creates immediate forward motion, with enough harmonic color and textural variety to feel sophisticated rather than novelty. This is music that swings and invites physical response, whether your ensemble is in the stadium or the gym.

Marching bands and pep ensembles looking for Grade 2.5 contemporary repertoire that connects with students and audiences alike. Directors who want to program recent hits alongside more traditional material without sacrificing musicality or educational value.

• Nail the clave rhythm in the rhythm section early. The entire groove depends on that pocket being locked before the full ensemble enters.
• Shape the melodic line with dynamic contour rather than playing it straight. Even at this grade level, the hook deserves the kind of phrasing that makes people recognize the song immediately.
• Balance the Latin percussion and auxiliary percussion so they enhance the groove without drowning out the harmonic foundation. These colors should sit in the pocket, not on top of it.
• Take advantage of the sectional layering López built in. Let ensemble voicings bloom gradually as parts add in; it creates momentum and keeps energy moving through longer phrases.

Load this into a spring or fall show where you want to sandwich a high-energy contemporary moment between concert or parade material. The Grade 2.5 difficulty means you can mount it quickly without derailing your rehearsal schedule, and the cultural currency of the tune makes it an audience magnet without feeling like a gimmick.

• Latin rhythmic articulation and phrasing within a pop idiom
• Clave-based groove orientation and rhythmic precision
• Balancing foreground melody with layered textural accompaniment
• Reading and executing contemporary compositional structures at the Grade 2.5 level
• Connecting personal music taste to ensemble performance contexts