Times Like These (arr. Matt Conaway Jack Holt): Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

This arrangement captures the propulsive momentum that makes the original so compelling while respecting what a marching ensemble can deliver. The Grade 3 scoring balances accessibility with enough textural interest to keep players engaged, and the gritty character of the tune gives your program permission to lean into contemporary energy that audiences genuinely connect with.

Muscular and purposeful. The piece radiates the kind of determined energy that makes you want to move forward; there's grit in the sound but also an underlying optimism that keeps it from feeling heavy. The driving pulse creates forward momentum while allowing moments of clarity and space to emerge.

Marching programs seeking repertoire that speaks to their student musicians while maintaining solid pedagogical grounding. The arrangement works equally well for groups building confidence with contemporary material or programs looking to energize a fall show with a crowd-friendly rock track.

• Commit fully to the driving pulse from the first note. This piece thrives on rhythmic lock and forward motion; tentative playing flattens its impact.
• Shape the dynamic contours deliberately. Rather than staying in a single energy zone, use the arrangement's peaks and valleys to build narrative momentum across the full arrangement.
• Balance the rock feel against march precision. The tune swings with attitude, but your section clarity and ensemble cohesion must remain sharp.
• Let the front ensemble carry ownership of the rhythmic foundation. Their steady presence anchors everything else and gives the battery and horns room to breathe.

Position this as an opener or closer on a fall or winter show. Its contemporary appeal and familiar melody give audiences an immediate entry point, while the arrangement's structural clarity makes it an effective teaching tool for younger ensembles learning to balance precision with attitude. It pairs well alongside other modern rock or alternative repertoire in programs exploring multi-era programming.

• Articulation control in a rock-inflected style
• Maintaining steady pulse and groove awareness
• Dynamic contrast and phrasing in contemporary idioms
• Section balance and blend across harmonic layers
• Rhythmic precision in mixed note values and syncopation