This Is Halloween (from The Nightmare Before Christmas) (arr. Conaway Finger): Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Elfman's original orchestration translates into a marching band setting that captures the song's distinctive character without sacrificing playability at Grade 2. The arrangement preserves those creeping, unsettling moments that make the tune so recognizable while remaining accessible to younger ensembles. Your students will feel the thrill of performing something genuinely theatrical and contemporary, not a watered-down version.

Creeping and delightful in equal measure. The melody unfolds with a minor-key elegance that feels both playful and genuinely spooky, never slipping into camp. There is something inherently theatrical about this tune; even at a slower tempo and at a lower level, it carries theatrical weight and captures that singular Tim Burton magic of making darkness charming.

Marching bands at Grade 2 level seeking Halloween season material with genuine compositional substance. Directors who want their programs to feel fresh and contemporary while keeping technical demands manageable. This works equally well for indoor winter guard programs or outdoor field show applications.

• Lock the tempo with the recorded accompaniment, but don't let the backing track dictate dynamics; your ensemble should shape the swells and pulls to create the eerie atmosphere Elfman intended.
• Emphasize the chromatic figures in the woodwinds with clarity and precision. These lines define the song's unsettling quality, so they need to speak without rushing or blurring.
• Pay attention to articulation markings as a tool for mood. Crisp staccatos contrast sharply with legato passages, creating the push-pull tension the original score relies on.
• Balance the melodic lines so the hook remains obvious even as supporting parts thicken. This is a song people know by ear; give them that satisfaction.

Open a Halloween or fall concert with it to set the mood immediately. The familiarity means your audience connects right away, and the arrangement sits at a comfortable difficulty level that lets your ensemble focus on presentation and character rather than survival. It also pairs well on a program with other film or pop arrangements, signaling that your band plays across musical worlds.

• Reading and executing chromatic passages with precision
• Controlling dynamics and tone color across extended phrases
• Balancing layered texture to maintain melodic clarity
• Articulation contrast to shape mood and character
• Interpreting rhythmic precision without losing musicality