Havana: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Matt Conaway's arrangement captures the song's infectious groove without requiring your section leaders to become Latin percussion specialists. The Grade 2-3 voicing keeps rehearsals focused on locking the rhythm and nailing the melody rather than untangling complex harmonies, making this an ideal selection when you need something current and fun that actually comes together.

Sultry and propulsive at once. There's a confidence in the way the melody sits above the Latin percussion, a steamy undercurrent that never loses its forward momentum. The harmonic language feels modern and approachable, inviting rather than intimidating.

Directors programming a fall or spring show who want to engage students with repertoire they actually know. This works equally well as a standalone feature or as part of a set that mixes classical fundamentals with contemporary appeal.

• Isolate the Latin percussion groove early and let your rhythm section sit with a recording before attempting full-band run-throughs. The pocket matters more than precision here.
• Balance the melody line against the accompaniment so the memorable hook cuts through the dense groove; this isn't a background track.
• Mark breath points clearly in rehearsal, especially where the melody stretches across long phrases. Students familiar with pop tend to underestimate the lung power needed in a marching setting.

Pair this with a more traditional concert opener to show students the range of musicianship required across styles. It also serves as a strong closer for a summer pops concert or a spring rehearsal building block when morale needs a lift.

• Locking into syncopated rhythms and Latin grooves
• Balancing melodic prominence in an ensemble texture
• Reading and executing stylistically appropriate articulation in contemporary pop
• Listening to rhythm section interaction as a structural anchor