“Even though I currently teach band more than 250 miles away from where the group rehearses, Pyware still allows me to impact rehearsals at a moment’s notice. Because I have the ability to quickly share charts, coordinate sheets, or directly upload files from Pyware to the UDB app and straight to members’ phones, I can receive a FaceTime from a staff member who offers a compelling reason to make a drill change and in less than 5 minutes I’m asking them to reload the file in UDB and set back up at the beginning of that chunk to learn the changes.”

 

For Obsidian Winds’ 2026 production, Nate dove deep into the extensive suite of tools and features Pyware offers and provided examples of how certain tools have boosted efficiency manipulating drill on the page, beginning with “Fast Edit” function.

“As someone who grew up in a small band program and written dozens of shows for small bands, I’ve really appreciated Pyware’s “Fast Edit” functionality, where I can drag and drop individual performers to different areas on the grid at will. When you’re dealing with a small section or a small band, this can be a quick way to stage a moment and bypass going back and forth between selecting performers, selecting a tool, confirming your selection, etc. With the Real View window open from a realistic vantage point, I can simultaneously adjust individuals bit by bit and see the adjustment in 3D in real time. To manipulate individuals in this way in the past, I would be stuck manually using the ‘Push tool’ one by one and moving them around with the arrow keys. This tactile experience just removes one more point of friction from my workflow.”

Nate went on to describe tools he routinely uses but only recently discovered the full range of their capabilities. For example, the “Adjuster Tool,” which he describes as his “go-to” when writing curved paths or helping individuals avoid collisions. Although familiar, it was not until writing the final movement of this year’s production that he learned more of what the tool has to offer.

“I wrote drill for years without really exploring the versatility of the ‘Adjuster Tool,’ but it allows me adjust individuals or groups, view all their pathways simultaneously, and workshop different pathways in seconds. There’s a moment in our final movement this year where I used this tool to allow a woodwind curvilinear to follow-the-leader while simultaneously slightly reshaping into a right-angle, framing the corner of the floor. That’s one of those things I would see watching drum corps throughout the 1980’s and could never figure out how to plot in Pyware until recently. I also love how you can use the ‘Arrow Tool’ to create arrows printed right on the page that perfectly map out an individual’s pathway without having to recreate the pathway yourself manually. Just click ‘Create Arrows from Paths’ and voila, now there’s a literal roadmap for members and staff to use to make what used to be ambiguous and complicated as simple as anything else.”

The “Track Tool” also proved effective particularly toward the finale of the show, as Nate designed the woodwinds and brass operating as two distinct visual elements to come together in a filled form.

“While the woodwinds march to their dots with straight-line paths and even sized steps, the brass have a more circuitous route to get there. Across 16 counts, each horizontal line of brass has a staggered step-off in which they leave on count 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 and take two 8-5 steps straight backwards. Then, they use the remaining counts to go straight to their final dot, which means that each line of brass has a different count structure between holding and moving. I used the Track tool to manipulate the pathway of each horizontal line to get them to their final position as part of the larger filled form while adjusting the yellow anchor forward in time 1 count and repeating this process with the next line until the entire brass section landed in set 43.”

Nate embraced the full spectrum of Pyware features throughout this WGI season, workshopping ideas for the production any moment inspiration struck. Around the clock, he continually refined the drill in the software and uploaded modifications to the UDB app. This placed updated changes directly in the students’ hands and provided more quality rehearsal time. Teaching a polished production made through Pyware with a “dot marching” approach, “gives each individual all the tools necessary to be 100% accountable for every coordinate in their show,” Nate explained.

With over a decade of experience as a drill designer, writing for various top-tier ensembles and indoor groups, he is continuing to refine his craft and delve further into his full creative potential, only now as a founding member of a group he helped establish, and they are off to a terrific start. The team at Pyware have been alongside Nate throughout his journey and are thrilled to see his success in drill design, and his pursuit to educate, inspire, empower the next generation through his own group, Obsidian Winds.

“Pyware’s customer service and commitment to being deeply ingrained in every aspect of the marching arts community are second-to-none. The people at Pyware always want to know about my personal experience using their product. I got the same level of attention and genuine communication back when I was writing for one or two small bands that I do today, writing for a number of WGI finalists in both Percussion and Winds as well as BOA Regional Finalists,” Nate said.

“I’ve yet to encounter a question that went unanswered within the same day, whether I reached out directly or via the Pyware Users Group on Facebook. They’ve helped foster an extremely positive and engaged community amongst drill writers from all over our activity. I’ve found myself commenting on a thread in the Users Group and everyone involved is interacting with people from the entire spectrum of our art form, including the people I’ve spent decades looking up to and admiring their work… Who all just so happen to use this tool to create moments that have shaped my entire experience in the marching arts and inspired me to find my own creative voice. Thank you, Pyware! Here’s to more than 40 years of shaping the very foundation of our activity, and plenty more to come!”

The post Obsidian Winds appeared first on Pyware.

For the Indiana Hoosiers, the 2025-2026 season was a true Cinderella story, coming from a history of loss, they capped an undefeated season clenching the university’s first-ever national title. Supporting them every step of the way, making this historic victory even more special, was Indiana’s marching band, the Marching Hundred. Led by Dr. Tiffany Galus, the Marching Hundred was an all-important piece to one of the biggest turnarounds in sports history.

Tiffany has experience working as Indiana University’s Assistant Professor of Music in Bands and Associate Director of IU athletic bands, and in the Fall of 2025, she stepped into the role of Director of the Marching Hundred.

“Having the opportunity to support the Indiana Football program during this historic postseason has been a dream come true. Watching Coach Cignetti and this year’s remarkable team week to week was a constant inspiration – their commitment to preparation, consistency, and teamwork became an example for the entire university to follow and it was an honor to support them towards the university’s first CFP National Championship.”

Each of the Marching Hundred’s postseason appearances at The Big Ten Championship, The Rose Bowl, the Tournament of Roses Parade, The Peach Bowl, and the National Championship Game, presented different factors that influenced design decisions and preparation. Tiffany explained how she used Pyware 3D not only to design and customize drill for each event, but also to map out specific transitions for performers to make their way to the field as efficiently as possible.

“Each of these postseason appearances had a different set of performance variables, fan engagement events, and entrance/exit parameters. By using Pyware to design formations and transitions for each event, it allowed each experience to flow seamlessly. I used Pyware not only to write and modify the drill to fit each event, but to also chart out ‘transitions’ into and out of each fan event and performance travel scenarios. By providing each performer with a transition location from their seats to the tunnels to the field, it allowed us to maximize our performance time on the field. Through recommendations from Dr. Christopher Hoch from Ohio State University, I also used Pyware to design and chart a ‘Nickerson-Style’ turn for the Tournament of Roses parade.”

The meticulous way Tiffany creates the drill design allows performers to familiarize themselves with every aspect of each performance, in advance. In addition, the integration of Ultimate Drill Book optimizes their learning experience as well, with the opportunity to independently practice the drill synced directly from Pyware. The ability to learn individual roles, specific coordinates and pathways, and view the show in its entirety, even down to the specifics of the venue, equips performers with all they need to succeed.

“I use the ‘Prop’ tool to create field diagrams for each performance venue and each stadium we perform in, so the performers learn their drill while also seeing additional field markers (High School, Professional and College hashes and numbers, Big Ten and CFP logos, on field advertisements, etc.). This allows them to mentally prepare for a field that they will only set foot on while they’re performing!”

“Through our use of UDB, we can utilize very detailed Production Notes, to provide clear instruction to each member of the Marching Hundred. This saves countless time in rehearsals and allows each member to have an increased sense of ownership and accountability in every appearance and performance,” Tiffany explained.

“The essential Pyware Tools that I use most frequently are the ability to write both forwards and backwards, allowing me to chart our most iconic sets with the most ideal instrumentation, and then working into and out of those forms; the Step-Size and Interval Analysis Tools to give the performers the best opportunities for success; and utilizing the prop tool to create ‘stencils’ that allow picture drill to come to life.”

For the National Championship pregame performance, in keeping with tradition, the Marching Hundred performed their most well-known, cherished drill formations and iconic school songs for the thousands of IU fans spanning across the Hard Rock Stadium. They also added a formation for Coach Cignetti to pay tribute to the wonderful work he has done for Indiana University and his back-to-back Coach of the Year Awards.

The Marching Hundred’s halftime show for the postseason was called “Breaking the Mold,” with music selections from Wicked and How to Train Your Dragon. Tiffany shared the inspiration behind the performance as “a celebration of all those who defy expectations, forge their own path, and dare to make the impossible, possible.” A most fitting message for the event, as the Indiana Hoosiers were in the midst of making history.

The second National Championship contender, the University of Miami Hurricanes, was backed by Frost Band of the Hour. In just the second year of leadership, both Directors Craig McKenize and Sheldon McLean spearheaded the program through the postseason run, all the way to the final game. Utilizing both Pyware 3D and the UDB app, paired with diligent work throughout the season, the marching band was fully prepared to show up, and show out.

“Pyware has been such a valuable tool for us this season. We have been trying to get more shows on the field each season since we’ve been hired, and with our weather, we’re often really on a time crunch to get drill learned and polished for performances. The ability to sync what we’re designing with the UDB app and make immediate updates and changes as necessary has made the process so much easier,” Craig said.

 

Premier football needs its counterpart – premier marching band. The thousands of audience members in the Hard Rock Stadium and the millions that watched on television will remember not only the football action, but the sound of the 2026 CFP National Championship.

The post The Sound of the 2026 College Football National Championship appeared first on Pyware.

The Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Marching Band had the special privilege of opening the 99^th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Not only did the band make history as the first Arizona college band to perform at the parade, but they also participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony with the incomparable, Cynthia Erivo.

Under the direction of Director TJ Mack, NAU was the first marching band of the parade to light up the stage of Herald Square, and they delivered a fun, fantastic performance to “Get Your Kicks” (on Route 66).

“We used Pyware to stage both our Herald Square Performance, as well as the ribbon cutting ceremony with special guest, Cynthia Erivo! Being able to use Pyware’s Macy’s Grid to design our routine and then transfer it to a football field made the learning process for our students very smooth.  Pyware was a crucial tool throughout our Macy’s Day experience, and we could not be more grateful!” said Director Mack.

 

The Temple University Diamond Marching Band’s first-ever performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a perfect crescendo for the program’s 100-year anniversary season. The students seemed to beam with excitement as they brought an abundance of energy and cheer in their debut parade performance.

Director Matt Brunner and Drill Designer Scott Goebel invested a significant amount of time and meticulous planning to prepare the performers for this special event. Scott composed different versions of the performance so students could view the drill from the Macy’s street view, as well as a version to learn on the practice field. They utilized the Ultimate Drill Book App for crossing counts to cement step-size into muscle memory. This assisted in the transition when the band moved from the practice field to the Star they had painted to replicate the parade venue.

After receiving Scott’s final drill file, Matt made some personnel edits, changed the overlay using the Floor Overlay tool, and set the opacity to 75% to add the most recent camera setup, store fronts, and Star size. All of this was extremely beneficial for the students to visualize the performance to the smallest detail.

“On parade day, it all paid off, as our drill, step size, placement on the Star, and formations came off flawlessly,” Director Brunner stated.

Since the high school opened its doors in 2019, the Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band has been named a three-time South Carolina Marching Band State Champion, attained several national awards, and received an invitation to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In one of the highlights of the parade, the band captivated the national audience in their performance paying tribute to the classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

“We rely on Pyware year after year with our outdoor and indoor programs, but it proved especially valuable during our Macy’s Parade preparation. The Macy’s grid let us visualize and clean the show more efficiently, and it made a noticeable difference in how confident our performers felt,” Assistant Band Director David Shives explained.

The Damien High School Spartan Regiment, three-time California State Band Division 2A Champions from La Verne, California, brought their spirit and energy to their first-ever performance at the parade with a collection of showbiz tunes, “Cinematic.”

Band Director JJ Magallon shared, “Pyware has been an essential tool for our program. It allows us to visualize, refine, and effectively communicate complex staging in a way that saves us time and ensures clarity for both staff and performers. For the parade specifically, the Macy’s grid was incredibly helpful. Being able to map out the exact performance zone in advance gave us confidence that the transitions, spacing, and overall impact would translate perfectly on the parade route and on camera.”

Drill Designer, David Lopez designed the drill for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day show.

Alcorn State University’s “Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite” is reputable for truly entertaining an audience wherever the invitation leads – from Honda Battle of the Bands, New Orleans Mardi Gras, and this year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Led by Director Everson Martin, the band brightened up the parade performing a medley of songs throughout the decades.

The University of North Alabama Marching Pride, from Florence Alabama, has produced legendary artists, such as Elvis and Johnny Cash. Director Lloyd Jones, led this band, with such rich musical history, down the streets of NYC for their first performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band is a consistent finalist in the Bands of America contests. They performed “The Longest Night.”

Drill Designer, Jaime Holly, stated,

“I’ve used Pyware for decades to design marching band, WGI and drum corps shows, but I had never used it to do Macy’s Thanksgiving Day drill until this year. The built in presets for the exact Macy’s street view were perfect and helped immensely. We were able to use the same 8 to 5 grid we practice on for fall drill, so it was easy for the band members to learn. Having the Star built into the presets, helped us to design a show where we were centered on the star for all the great TV shots. I had designed a show by hand for the parade decades ago, before Pyware, and I can’t overstate how much easier and better this was to put it all together on Pyware.”

La Banda De Musica La Primavera empowers young men and women between eight to seventeen to utilize their gift of music to better themselves, their education, and uplift the audiences they perform for, both within their country and internationally. The band represented Panama beautifully at their first parade appearance, performing “Sancocho Panameno.”

The Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps, led by Director Paul La Flamme, is a youth music and performing arts organization that has taken the DCI realm by storm, earning 8 World Championship titles. They brought holiday joy to the masses in their performance of Christmas classics.

The New York City Police Department Marching Band, led by Johan Gil, is comprised of 70 active-duty police officers, is a consistent fan favorite at the parade. They once again represented the spirit of NYC and the love for music that radiates throughout the city.

The Macy’s Great American Marching Band includes 225 high school musicians, color guard members, and dancers throughout the nation, selected for their exceptional skill and musicianship. Celebrating their 19^th year, this entertaining band has become a yearly highlight of the parade.

One of the great thrills of the year for the Pyware Team is to assist band directors and designers in preparing for a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for their band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Working with these individuals for years, the team has only grown more respectful for their craft and dedication to education. The passion they put into the activity, especially their students, deserves to be recognized on a national stage. Congratulations to all the marching bands, directors, and drill designers, that traveled to NYC to share their gift of music and a little more joy this holiday season!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

The post 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appeared first on Pyware.

While organizing this year’s show for the Vista Ridge Ranger Band, Peter tapped into his knack for creative choreography and contemporary design. This prompted him to delve into a few features of Pyware 3D that would help transform his bold ideas into reality.

“The Vista Ridge show titled ‘Perfect Imperfections’ led me to explore a lot of organic, layered developments including structured forms dissolving to scatter, staggering step-offs, individuals being left out of forms, and choreographing in a way that distorts the human body, making it feel ‘imperfect.’ Without Pyware’s diverse set of tools that are constantly being updated and enhanced, this project would have been nearly impossible to put together.”

In addition to the suite of features in Pyware 3D that help unlock the designer’s creative potential, Peter also discussed the advantage of teaching students intricate drill with the UDB app. Regardless of how advanced the drill design and choreography, band directors can provide a comprehensible training tool for performers to master their roles in the show.

“The integration with UDB has truly changed the game for band directors, instructors, and students in understanding how to learn and teach organic layered visual developments effectively and efficiently. Also, the ability of myself and the other choreographers to be inspired in making the drill come to life through movement, rather than strictly marching dot-to-dot. This speaks volumes to the modern design approach that can now be handled on Pyware!”

The Vista Ridge Ranger Band came in second at the Texas Marching Classic with Outstanding Percussion and Outstanding Visual Performance awards and placed 6^th at the 6A UIL State Marching Contest. Their final performances were held at the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional – roughly 100 bands performed in the preliminary competition with just 14 advancing to the finals. The band topped off the ’25-’26 marching season earning 9^th place overall!

Congratulations to the Vista Ridge High School Director of Bands, Robert Herrings, the full band staff, and Drill Designer Peter Beckhart. And a special congratulations to the exceptional student performers for putting on a masterful, inspired performance in “Perfect Imperfections,” each time they took the field!

The post Vista Ridge Ranger Band <BR>“Perfect Imperfections” appeared first on Pyware.

Trevor Braselton oversees the entire Dickinson band program, and directs the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band – bands under his leadership have consistently earned UIL Sweepstakes. The drill designer for the Gator Band is a skilled veteran in the industry, Peter Weber. His award-winning work for over 30 years includes designs for world renowned DCI and WGI finalists, the United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, several universities, BOA Grand National and Regional finalists, and State Champions. Since entering the drill design field, Peter has used Pyware 3D as his trusted program in each activity of the marching arts on various levels.

“For decades, Pyware has been my indispensable, go-to design tool for marching band, drum corps, and indoor ensembles. Its comprehensive suite of features is instrumental in transforming concepts into detailed, executable marching drills,” Peter stated.

He continued to explain a few of the features within the software he finds most useful, particularly for this year’s Dickinson High School production. When considering how the birds would be implemented within the show, Peter used the performer prop tool, which provides several ways to arrange, manipulate, and move set pieces to the designer’s liking. The time-saving editing tools, such as the stagger tool, which allows for successive transitions. Also, the ability to view the completed show in 3D.

 

“While designing “Featherbrained” for the Dickinson High School Band, the Performer Prop Tool was invaluable for conceptualizing the prop integration and movement. Moreover, the Stagger Tool, used to detail ripple and sequential moments, saved us additional, precious hours of physical rehearsal. The 3D modeling and animation capabilities are invaluable, allowing me to visualize the show from every perspective and make critical, precise adjustments virtually. This ability to troubleshoot in a virtual environment saves countless hours of valuable field rehearsal time.”

In addition to Peter’s talent for creative designing, he also has great determination to see student performers succeed. He is dedicated to creating high-powered shows that allow everyone involved to thrive. The enthusiasm in which Peter speaks about his craft of drill design matches the way he speaks about who he designs for – an eagerness to provide the necessary tools and instruction for an extraordinary presentation.

“The core utility of customizable grids, coordinate sheets, and seamless integration with Ultimate Drill Book streamlines the teaching process, guaranteeing every performer receives precise, clear instructions. Ultimately, Pyware doesn’t just help me design a show – it enables me to build a more dynamic, visually engaging, and successful performance for the student performers.”

 

Our team at Pyware applauds the amazing designers and directors devoted to the activity, and the gifted student performers that make these shows so fun to watch! We wish the Dickinson High School Gator Band the best of luck at the State Competition!

The post Dickinson Gator Band’s <BR>“Featherbrained” appeared first on Pyware.

The drill and visual designer for this production, Jeff Sacktig, helped lay the foundation for the Vandegrift band program back in 2012, just a few short years after the school opened. Jeff is currently in his 14^th year working with the Vandegrift Viper Band and has helped cultivate a tradition of excellence for the program with his award-winning shows. In recent years, the band has won UIL 6A State Marching Band Championships, a BOA Grand National Championship, and been named recipient of the Sudler Shield award and Sudler Flag of Honor.

Jeff has been involved in the pageantry arts in several capacities throughout the course of his career. He began writing drill on paper in 1990, then started using Pyware 3D in the Fall of 2003.

“Pyware has been my best friend for a long time,” he said.

“I have been designing shows 36 years and Pyware has been my most valuable asset.  From a writing standpoint there is an efficiency in creating dynamic shows in all disciplines of our pageantry arts that are unmatched by any other product. From an educational standpoint, the process of distributing information to directors, teachers and students is clear and easy to follow. As a current designer, I appreciate that the team at Pyware are continually working on improving the product.”

The Pyware Team is honored that the software has played a role in Jeff’s stellar career, as he has designed for phenomenal programs across the country and in Japan. His visual design work with the Dartmouth High School Indoor Percussion line, Carolina Crown, and 20-year term as drill writer for The Cadets, has propelled him into the ranks of the DCI Hall of Fame, WGI Hall of Fame, World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, and Cadets Hall of Fame. Working alongside Jeff is newly appointed Director of Bands, Jarrett Lipman. The band program and Vandegrift community welcomed him in the spring of 2024 and so far, he is off to a fantastic beginning with the Viper Band. Jarrett accepts his new role with the band after a 16-year period as both the Assistant Band Director and Head Director of the 2020 UIL 6A State Marching Champions, multi-time Grand National Finalist, and BOA Regional Champions, the Claudia Taylor Johnson High School Band. He is also experienced in DCI, currently working with the Boston Crusaders.

Jarrett is highly motivated to build upon the band’s reputation for stunning performances and top-ranking seasons. With his fresh viewpoint for the program paired with the impressive prowess from designer extraordinaire, Jeff Sacktig, the sky is the limit for the Vandegrift Vipers. We would like to wish them continued success throughout the BOA circuit, UIL Marching Band contests, and 2025-2026 season!

The post Vandegrift Vipers <BR> Band and Vision Dance Company appeared first on Pyware.

Collaborating with Keith were two familiar colleagues who have worked closely with him throughout the course of their careers – Drill Designer, Leon May, and Color Guard Director, Michael Townsend. The trio have developed a strong working relationship over the years, sharing an importance on synergism and a teamwork mentality. Leon May, a prolific drill designer, is sought after by the most elite groups across the country and the Pyware Team has been fortunate to watch his success through numerous visual and general effect awards, BOA Grand National Championships, and now a second DCI World Championship.

“Leon and I have been designing shows together since the mid 1990’s. Our process is collaborative as I try to offer conceptual development and flow of events regarding integration of the sections, props, and contour. Pyware has been critical in our development as partners and designers. We started writing long before we had access to this wonderful tool but Leon’s quick mastery of the software, combined with his artistic vision, has helped us problem solve and dream 4 or 5 steps ahead of the next ideas in any given song or production. Pyware is a game changer in just about every way possible; design, productivity, and instruction,” Keith said.

Leon shared with us his current favorite design tools, the props and uniforms Pyware’s Art Director, Jesse Mercer, created for the show, and the support system the Pyware team was able to offer.

“My current favorite tool among several is the spot swap tool. It lets me get the right people in the right places for future events. Honorable mention is the group, like the secondary count button in the glue tool function. They have certainly contributed to and elevated the design. Jesse did an amazing job putting our prop idea into Pyware. It was so awesome to be able to have them as a part of the design so early in our process. And of course, Dustin Merrell (Pyware’s Application Systems Director) is always so fast with a helpful response and a calm demeanor during a drill emergency.”

Keith’s vision of an explosive, “booming,” retro-futuristic show was certainly executed, every piece coming together to create an unexpected, exciting performance that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. There is a reason he is one of the most esteemed program directors in the marching arts. He praised the talented performers, explaining there were no boundaries on imagining the design of the show – if he could dream it, they could do it. Roughly 165 performers demonstrated a journey through time and space, illustrating a reflection of the past, the present, and optimism for the future. The number one goal for Keith was that all members of the organization, from the top down, to enjoy the experience. And the relentlessness and hard work the staff and performers poured into the season paid off in spades, capped off by an eruption of applause from the thousands of fans cheering them on.

The Pyware team would like to congratulate the Boston Crusaders on an incredible season, caption awards for Color Guard, Percussion, and Brass, and their first gold medal in program history.

Watch the opening clip of “Boom” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp24jcHGajM

The post The 2025 DCI World Champions <BR> The Boston Crusaders appeared first on Pyware.

There were two performance opportunities especially noteworthy and high points of the students’ season, one being the invitation from the mayor of Dublin to participate in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The 2025 parade turned out to be one of Dublin’s largest parades to date. The exclusive privilege of representing not only their school district and state of Texas, but American marching band on an international stage is a special memory students can carry with them forever.

Secondly, the band was surprised by global artist and Grapevine High School alum, Post Malone, with an opportunity that guaranteed huge bragging rights for the students. In a video that went viral, Director James Rees delivered the exciting news to his students that they would be performing outside the AT&T Stadium before the Post Malone concert. Crowds of fans arrived at the stadium early to watch the band perform several of Posty’s most popular hits.

(Director James Rees and Grapevine Seniors with Fox 4 News following the performance announcement)

Director Rees has taught band for 17 years, the past six for Grapevine. He explained how truly special this year was for the program.

“My favorite memory of this year was watching the students have a one-of-a-kind experience. Being able to be with them when they were in a moment that they will remember for the rest of their lives is so special and is the driving force behind all that we do at Grapevine.”

Throughout Rees’s teaching career, he has led several marching bands to consistent high-ranking seasons, and he stated every drill he’s taught was designed in Pyware 3D. The ability for directors and designers to collaborate in an efficient, streamlined manner is something the Pyware Team continually strives to improve upon. For example, with tools such as the Design Team feature and the Mobile Editor app. Aside from effective collaboration and the capability for all members of the staff to view the completed show prior to rehearsal, the way in which the performers learn the drill is critical. This is why Pyware teamed up with Ultimate Drill Book. Now, every aspect of creating the show, editing, and teaching the drill is covered, ensuring a successful production in all respects.

“Every marching band drill I’ve taught has been designed in Pyware! It’s the industry standard, and for good reason. At Grapevine we use Pyware alongside Ultimate Drill Book to teach the drill. Pyware 3D is especially valuable for helping both our staff and students visualize the show before we ever step onto the field. It makes it easier for everyone to understand spacing, step size, and transitions, which sets us up for success once we start rehearsing.”

Drill designer Andy Ebert works with the Grapevine Mustang Band to create the shows that helped afford them incredible performance opportunities this past year. His design work, Director Rees’s leadership, and talented, hard-working students resulted in an epic 2024-2025 season for Grapevine.

“It has been a lot of fun to be a part of building the program at Grapevine. We’ve seen tremendous growth in both student enrollment and student achievement, and that’s thanks to the dedication of our band staff, the support of our administration, and the commitment of our incredible band parents and community. So much has changed in the six years I’ve been here, and I’m really proud of how far we’ve come. I can’t wait to see what’s next; the best is yet to come!” said Director Rees.

The Pyware Team would like to wish the Grapevine Mustang Band many more seasons of one-of-a-kind opportunities and great success!

The post Grapevine High School Mustang Band’s Outstanding Season appeared first on Pyware.

The movie is set in 1992, shortly after martial law was lifted in Taiwan. A high school student bound for a top medical college decides to pursue his passion instead by joining the school’s marching band.

Marching Boys Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&v=628313843368685&rdid=geZGJcfXkni5Pu0W

Our team at Pyware were thrilled when contacted by the movie’s production team to be highlighted in this international film. The designer for the marching band featured in the movie utilized Pyware 3D for all the performances within the production.

Damien Fan, drill designer and Associate Professor in the Graduate Program in Translation and Interpretation at the National Taiwan University, has used Pyware for roughly 20 years throughout the course of his career and was responsible for the drill design in the movie. He chose to use the program for this film largely in part of the software’s efficiency in making instant edits, also to better convey his ideas to members of the project – specifically those not well-versed in the marching band space.

“Using Pyware for this film project was an easy decision. In a movie-production setting, changes often need to be made quickly to enhance the visual impact of a scene. Pyware offers the flexibility to make those adjustments efficiently. It not only helps me implement changes on the fly, but it also enables the crew, including the director and cinematography – who may not be familiar with the marching arts – to visualize the drill and better understand the creative possibilities,” Damien explained.

“I’ve been using Pyware since around 2004, and it has consistently impressed me with its intuitive design and adaptability to ensembles of all levels. I especially appreciate the regular updates, and most of all, the consistently prompt and friendly support from Dustin Merrell (Pyware’s Application Systems Director) and the team,” he continued.

 

In the final credits of “Marching Boys,” a series of design formations created in Pyware are displayed, giving the audience an inside look into the forethought from the drill writer and band members that contributed to the overall design of the performances.

“We believed that including Pyware in this context not only adds authenticity to the film but also shows the valuable role the software plays in the marching arts community. The software has been an invaluable tool for marching band professionals worldwide, and we are honored to highlight its contribution in Marching Boys” Production Team Member, Denise Lin, stated.

Pyware will continue striving to expand the reach of the software; making a positive, global impact on the marching arts and all those that participate in the craft is our primary goal.

Thank you to all those that were involved in creating “Marching Boys!” The Pyware Team was truly honored to have been highlighted in this international production. The film will be released in Taiwan this summer with global release dates to be determined.

The post “Marching Boys” appeared first on Pyware.

In their first appearance at the parade, the Golden Regiment Marching Band of Blue Springs High School in Missouri captured the “Best Overall Band” award.

Director of Bands, Dr. Tim Allshouse, explained,

“Having an opportunity to perform on the international stage was an incredible experience that we are all grateful for. The Irish people were so friendly and made us feel so welcome. Although the parade was 2 hours it seemed like 2 minutes. There is something special about traveling internationally that does teach us and reminds us that music is truly the international language. What you can’t say in words, you can often say through music. It opened up all of our eyes to new beautiful landscapes, traditions and cultures. It sounds cliché to say ‘it was a trip of a lifetime’ but it truly was. It is something we will all take with us forever.”

Illinois State University’s marching band was selected for the third time to travel to Dublin and perform in the parade. Director F. Mack Wood is a long-time Pyware user and used the software to send the Big Red Marching Machine’s parade block to the St. Patrick’s Day Festival so the festival’s committee knew how the band would line up for the event.

“Pyware is a huge part of what we do with the Big Red Marching Machine. We use the software to design all our shows and use Ultimate Drill Book with our students to help teach the drill. The quick edit updates and quick selection updates in Version 11 were very helpful in my drill design this past season.”

The Falcon marching band of Bowling Green State University was recently recognized as one of the nation’s standout college bands by U.S. News and World Report and was selected to perform for their first time at the parade. Under the direction of Jon Waters, the band has consistently grown in size, now reaching a record 425 performers – the most in school history and one of the largest bands in the nation. They have performed in other renowned national parades, but this was the first performance on a global stage.

The University of Central Florida’s Marching Knights are known for their high-energy, electric performances. Led by Dr. Tremon Kizer and David Schreier, the band entertained audiences at several historical landmarks the days leading to their debut performance at the parade.

“The UCF Marching Knights were honored to be selected to perform in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin. The event is something that will be remembered for years to come,” said Dr. Kizer.

Other Pyware users that performed at the parade include Legacy High School in Colorado and Waukee Northwest High School in Iowa.

Roughly half a million spectators lined the streets of Dublin to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to showcase their craft on an international stage. Our team at Pyware takes great pride in the opportunity to assist these talented programs throughout the year. We love following their journey and success, wherever the season takes them.

Congratulations on the honor of being selected to perform at such an iconic event!

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