Hurricane Season: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Paul Murtha's arrangement channels Trombone Shorty's unmistakable New Orleans swagger without sacrificing playability for a marching ensemble. The Grade 4 instrumentation keeps the funk groove driving forward while staying within reach of students who are still building foundational jazz and contemporary music literacy. This is the kind of piece that makes rehearsals feel less like work and more like a genuine musical experience.

Warm, propulsive, and undeniably fun. The arrangement captures that New Orleans brass band tradition of making music feel like a celebration, with grooves that invite the audience to move. There's swagger built into every measure, but it comes across as genuine rather than forced.

Any director looking to inject genuine contemporary music into the marching season without sacrificing educational value. Grade 4 bands with solid foundational skills will find the part writing approachable, while the style demands enough musical maturity to avoid sounding cartoonish. This works equally well for spring concerts, pep events, or full marching shows.

• Lock the backbeat in the low brass and percussion section first. The whole funk pocket depends on this rhythmic foundation, so spend rehearsal time isolating these parts before layering in the horns.
• Treat syncopated passages with deliberate articulation, but avoid the trap of making them sound stiff. Funk lives in the space between crisp and relaxed; younger players often need permission to feel that difference.
• Balance the soloistic trombone moments against the ensemble texture. These aren't melodies to blend away; they should cut through while still serving the overall groove.

Insert this into a spring or summer concert as a palate cleanser between classical or traditional selections. Its contemporary energy appeals to younger audience members while its roots in authentic brass tradition give it musical substance that doesn't condescend to any listener. The piece also programs naturally alongside other funk, jazz, or pop arrangements if you're building a modern pops concert.

• Reading and executing funk rhythms and syncopation in a marching context
• Understanding jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
• Balancing precision with groove-based flexibility
• Playing with dynamic control and stylistic sensitivity in contemporary idioms
• Listening and sectional lock in a rhythm-driven ensemble