This is a great opportunity for program directors (as staff) meet with an expert in the field of marching arts production design to explore new and innovative ways to design your marching band shows. Learn how to maximize effect and be efficient with the resources that you have. You can register for a 50-minute workshop with John McFarland to discuss the productions your programs have performed and determine new outlooks on musical and visual design to enhance your program’s output. Find out what can work for you.
Register for Your Private Design Workshop
This workshop is sponsored by The Wind Bands areas within Marshall University’s School of Music and is free to all those who choose to register. Slots are limited, so please register as soon as possible. This is on a first come, first serve basis.
Meet John Max McFarland
John Max McFarland is an active composer/arranger in the marching arts. He currently serves as the Program Coordinator, Percussion Arranger, and Sound Designer for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. Previously he served as the Program Coordinator for Legends Drum and Bugle Corps (Kalamazoo, MI) from 2016 to 2022. From 2013 to 2015 he was the percussion composer/arranger for Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2020 John joined The White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps (Rochester, NY) as show coordinator and battery arranger. He is still involved with the corps assuming roles as the percussion arranger and music coordinator. John is also the percussion arranger for the Rogues Hollow Regiment based in Doylestown, Ohio. In 2018 he was the percussion caption head and arranger for the Erie Thunderbirds Drum and Bugle Corps in Erie, PA.
In WGI, John has composed and arranged for many ensembles ranging from Scholastic A Class to Independent World Class. Many notable clients include Eastside Fury (2012-2014), Notre Dame Indoor Percussion Ensemble (PIA Finalists 2012, 2013) Ferndale Independent Percussion (2015 PIA Silver Medalists), Farmington United Percussion (2017 PIA Silver Medalists), and Decatur Central Indoor Percussion (2018 PSCA Gold Medalists). John also composes marching band shows for high schools and colleges all over the country.
From 2014 – 2020 John was heavily involved with the Cleveland Browns Drumline acting as their Program Director, Music Composer, as well as Game Day Performer.
John is also the orchestrator for ‘Infamous’; a brand new, groundbreaking musical by Playwright David Owen Michaels, which tells the story of the Abraham Lincoln assassination through the eyes of John Wilkes Booth.
John received his degrees in Composition (B.M.) and Percussion Performance (B.M., M.M.) from Western Michigan University. He studied percussion under Judy Moonert. John has performed as the principal percussionist and Principal Timpanist for the University Concert and Symphonic Bands, as well as the University Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony and Battle Creek Symphony as a substitute percussionist.
John was also a marching member of the Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps as well as the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps. John studied composition under Curtis Curtis-Smith, Dr. Richard Adams, and Dr. Robert Ricci. His compositions and arrangements have received international recognition with performances all over the United States as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia. John is also the owner and founder of Six to Five Productions, LLC a marching arts music publishing company where many of his original shows for marching band, winter percussion, and concert percussion can be found.
John resides in Medina, Ohio with his wife Sydney, his son Camden, his daughter Cadence, and his 2 dogs (Tippy and Ozark)
– Program Coordinator and Percussion Arranger for Academy Drum and Bugle Corps
– Music Arranger for Cabell Midland High School
– Former program coordinator and percussion arranger for Legends Drum and Bugle Corps
– Full time music arranger and program coordinator for marching bands and drum corps across the country