This Is Why: Marching Band Conductor Score

Nick Baratta's arrangement captures the driving energy and contemporary groove of the original while making it fully accessible to Grade 3 marching ensembles. The voicing and instrumentation work equally well whether you're fielding a full corps or running a smaller pep band, making this a rare chart that truly adapts to your roster. Contemporary rock hits keep students engaged and excited about rehearsal, and this one does it without sacrificing musicianship.

This chart pulses with the relentless forward momentum of modern rock. The arrangement respects the original's emotional intensity while translating it into the marching ensemble idiom, creating something that feels both familiar and freshly exciting on the field.

Marching band directors programming for stands, auxiliary feature competitions, or high-energy pep band performances. High school and advanced middle school programs will find the Grade 3 level accessible while still offering enough sophistication to challenge developing musicianship.

• Lock the rhythm section tight from day one. The groove is the foundation of this chart, so get your percussion and low brass locked in beat-for-beat before layering in the upper parts.
• Lean into the dynamic contrasts. Grade 3 charts often sit in a narrow dynamic range, but this one has real peaks and valleys. Make those transitions clean and intentional.
• Keep the front ensemble crisp and precise. Auxiliary parts in modern rock arrangements need clarity to shine; muddy execution buries what makes these charts fun.
• Record sectionals early and often. Having audio references of the original arrangement helps brass understand the melodic contour and rhythmic feel beyond what's on the page.

Pair this with other contemporary hits to build a rock-themed concert or showcase set that energizes audiences and students alike. It works especially well mid-program as a momentum builder, or anchor a pep band rotation where crowd engagement and visual entertainment matter as much as precision.

• Maintaining steady groove and rhythmic precision in syncopated rock idioms
• Reading and executing contemporary musical textures across multiple instrumental parts
• Balancing ensemble blend while keeping rhythmic and melodic clarity
• Connecting written notation to recognizable contemporary music sources