12 Essential Roles in Your Marching Band Team
By Jeff Chambers Music
1. Music Arranger
Producing a marching band show starts with finding marching band music!
JCM is a marching music provider with over 12 years of experience and over 500 clients served since our founding. Our marching band catalog has 159 full marching shows with 17 new shows for the 2025 season!
Browse JCM marching arrangements: jeffchambersmusic.net/catalog
2. Drill Designer
Marching band wouldn’t be complete without marching! A skilled drill designer can bring your show to life with dynamic movement and visual elements.
Contact us today to get connected with our trusted network of drill designers:
Email: info@jeffchambersmusic.net
3. Program Coordinator
A marching band show is more than the sum of its parts; it’s a carefully coordinated production. A program coordinator ensures that all the visual and musical elements come together seamlessly to create a cohesive and impactful show.
Contact us today if you’re interested in our program coordination services:
Email: info@jeffchambersmusic.net
4. Visual Caption Head
A visual caption head is essential to teaching marching fundamentals and integrating drill and visuals into the show. Having this designated team member allows band directors to focus more on the musical aspects of the show.
This role also works with the drill designer to ensure that the drill enhances the music and matches the skill level of the students.
5. Color Guard Caption Head & Choreographer
A color guard caption head plays a unique role in the marching band, specializing in technique and choreography instruction while also managing staging, equipment, costumes, makeup, and more.
Contact us if you’re interested in custom winds, percussion, and guard choreography!
Email: info@jeffchambersmusic.net
6. Percussion Caption Head
Marching music consists of winds and percussion, with each needing their own rehearsal spaces and curriculum.
Hiring a percussion caption head allows band directors to focus solely on winds growth and development while the percussion caption head focuses solely on the percussion.
7. Field Staff
Having on-the-field coaches working with students face-to-face is essential to their growth as performers and development of the marching show.
There are countless opportunities for improvement only seen at the field level that can be facilitated by members of the field staff.
8. Electronics and Sound Technician
Sound design and amplification have become critical parts of field show presentation. A dedicated sound technician can manage and troubleshoot your electronics equipment, ensuring your students can focus on performing their best!
JCM shows come with sound design in our music packages! Contact us today to inquire about free audio consultations.
9. Props Manager
While props aren’t required for a field show, they have the ability to enhance the musical and visual elements of a show.
Whether show props are made by students, parents, or professionals, having a designated leader for purchasing, constructing, and transporting props is essential to your band’s success.
10. Band Booster President
This is the person designated to manage the finances of your band program:
Department funding
Band fees
Fundraising
Donations
Taxes
This role is often filled by a band parent but can be taken on by anyone in your community with experience in financial management, especially in the non-profit sector.
11. Volunteer Staff
Football games and competitions wouldn’t be possible without parents and volunteers contributing their time and resources during the marching season.
Equipment hauling, food service, health & safety, and uniform management are just a few of the critical elements of a functioning marching band program.
Establish your volunteer staff by getting connected with band parents and members of your community!
12. Band Director
Last but not least: the band director! Their role is to ensure all of the previous roles are covered and running smoothly. With proper planning, the band director can delegate responsibilities and oversee the many moving parts of the marching band machine. Get connected with colleagues, alumni, and community members to start building your marching band team!
Who did we miss?
Learn more about JCM’s services: Program Coordination Drill Design Winds & Percussion Choreography Guard Choreography Audio Consultations
Learn more about JCM’s services:
Program Coordination
Drill Design
Winds, Percussion, and Guard Choreography
Email us at: info@jeffchambersmusic.net
12 Essential Roles in Your Marching Band Team
Music Arranger
Drill Designer
Program Coordinator
Visual Caption Head
Color Guard Caption Head
Percussion Caption Head
Field Staff
Electronics and Sound Technician
Props Manager
Band Booster President
Volunteer Staff
Band Director