3 Fresh Marching Band Show Ideas for 2022

Let's face it - students are really hard to impress. As a Band Director, one of the first things that can go wrong for your upcoming Marching Band Season is picking a show theme that doesn't impress your students. From there on, your season can be doomed. If the show doesn't impress your students, then they won't buy into the show. If they don't buy into the show, they won't be engaged during rehearsals. If they aren't engaged in rehearsals, they won't perform well... then it's just a downward spiral.

But it doesn't need to be that way! You can be a superhero band director and prevent ANY of that from ever happening. You can pick a Marching Band Show Theme that your students will LOVE in the 2022 Season. From there, they will be engaged in rehearsal. They will perform with passion. They will have a blast. All because you picked a show that they could buy into and understand.

So how do you do it? How do you come up with a theme that is so awesome, that your membership will love what they are doing and performing? How do YOU become a rockstar band director? Think about what your students are interested in now. What shows do they like? What video games do they like? What music do they listen to on repeat in the band room after school? That is your first step to finding that perfect show. But let me help you out a bit.

3 Fresh Ideas for your Marching Band Show in 2022

3. Stranger Things

One of the best shows currently on Netflix for the past several years, Stranger Things is an intense sci-fi thriller that can bring a ton of excitement and energy to the field. Build a show that embraces the supernatural, eerie, and culture from the 1980s. Design a show with lots of synth textures, and have characters on the field that help portray the wild adventures of the Netflix hit.

2. Glitch

Students today are obsessed with Technology and Computers. Design a show that shows the dangers of the technological world, especially when there is a Glitch in the system. This can be a fun concept that scores high in GE. Have the band perform computer stutters and glitches by playing repetitive notes, and even having the band freeze and "shut down". Students can have a lot of fun acting out this concept and making it their own.

1. Vampire's

While this has been done a decent amount by plenty of bands before - try taking a different route. Show the more dynamic side of Vampire's, possibly adding a love interest to the tale. Always popular in teen culture, vampires are a continuously trendy concept with media like The Vampire Diaries and Twilight. Why not embrace this topic and tell a new spin on the classic tale.

Whatever you do, ask the students for their input. Anything you can do to give them the opportunity to be involved in the creative process will help drive engagement and interest among your members. Remember to make Marching Band fun and exciting for everyone involved.

I hope this helps you to figure out what your 2022 Marching Band Show might look like. If you have any ideas or suggestions for more shows, send me an email! dan@danielfullmanmusic.com