Soda Pop (from KPop Demon Hunters) (arr. Paul Murtha): Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Infectious and fun without apology. The arrangement has enough harmonic color and rhythmic precision to stay musically interesting for the players, while the audience connects instantly with the familiar melody and groove. It's the kind of piece that gets genuine cheers.

Directors programming pep band concerts, basketball halftime shows, or Friday night football entertaining fans who want music rooted in contemporary pop culture. This works equally well for marching bands seeking high-energy novelty pieces that students actually recognize and want to play.

• Establish a tight pocket with the drum set early in rehearsal; the groove depends on that partnership between the battery and the winds.
• Balance the melodic lines so the hook stays memorable without burying the counter-melodies underneath.
• Mark all the rhythmic hits precisely during sectional rehearsals before bringing the full band together; clarity here translates to visual-musical cohesion.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock tempos and feel, but have your rhythm section rehearse independently so they own the time.

Slot this into pep band rotations where you need immediate engagement with non-traditional audiences, or use it as a closer for a marching band show that otherwise leans into standard repertoire. It also serves as a morale booster in rehearsal when the band needs a break from heavier material.

• Groove-based rhythmic precision and pocket awareness
• Balancing melodic prominence with harmonic support
• Coordination with drum set in a pop music context
• Stylistic flexibility and contemporary music literacy