Custom drill designed for your students, your ensemble, and your goals.
Serving marching band programs throughout Illinois and across the United States.
From small bands with around 20 performers to larger competitive ensembles, every drill package is designed around the musicians actually taking the field. Explore examples of my drill, visual design, staging, guard integration, original music, and complete field show design.
Drill Designed for YOUR Band
I don’t believe in forcing every ensemble into the same style of drill. Band size, instrumentation, student experience, guard size, musical demands, competitive goals, and rehearsal time all influence the design.
Whether you’re working with 20 performers or a much larger competitive ensemble, the goal is the same: create clear, achievable, engaging drill that makes your students look their best.
Featured Drill Portfolio
Small Band Drill Design
Creating Visual Impact with 20 Performers
Small Ensemble • Approx. 20 Performers
Writing effective drill for a small ensemble presents a different design challenge than writing for a 50-, 75-, or 100-member band. Simply increasing intervals can make a small band look disconnected. Instead, I use form, staging, movement, density, and negative space to give the ensemble a strong visual presence while maintaining clarity and achievable responsibilities for the students.
Small bands don’t need watered-down drill. The design simply needs to be approached differently. My goal is to give smaller programs engaging and competitive visual opportunities while writing appropriately for the students who will actually perform the production.
Competitive & Medium Ensemble Design
Blue Ridge HS 2019 – Greatest Showman Opener
Approx. 50 Performers • Competitive Drill
My approach to drill design is not based on a one-size-fits-all template. Each production is written around the size, instrumentation, experience level, strengths, and goals of the individual band program.
55-Piece Competitive Ensemble
Full-Field Staging • Visual Development
Every field show I design is customized to each band’s unique instrumentation, ability level, performance goals, and budget. Whether your program is looking for a state finals appearance, a stronger visual package, or simply a more engaging show for your students and audiences, I create productions that showcase your ensemble’s strengths.
Original Music + Drill
This section showcases ensembles that use complete field show packages that include original music and custom drill design by CK Marching Services.
Arcola HS 2019 – Spanish Dances
Original Field Show • Original Music • Custom Drill
This production demonstrates the integration of original music, drill design, staging, and visual development into a complete marching band production.
Mattoon HS 2023 – Original Western Show
Original Music • Arrangement • Drill Design
When I’m creating both the music and drill, the visual design can be developed directly around musical phrasing, transitions, features and impact moments.
Advanced Visual & Staging Examples
The sequence demonstrates how a longer transition can be used to allow a visual idea to develop naturally. Multiple sections begin with independent staging and gradually evolve into a large circular form, creating a clear change in scale and visual focus.
This video features an example of my **custom competitive marching band drill design**, highlighting asymmetrical staging, color guard integration, form development, and the use of multiple visual layers across the field.
School and production names withheld at the program’s request. Audio has been removed from selected portfolio videos due to music copyright restrictions.
Behind the Design
More Than Dots on a Field
Effective drill design also requires communication. This student commentary example demonstrates how I explain visual concepts, transitions, responsibilities, and design intent to performers.
Want to See More?
These are just a selection of productions I’ve designed over the years. My complete drill portfolio includes examples for small, medium, and larger ensembles; competitive and entertainment-focused programs; original productions; guard integration; and a variety of visual styles.
Let’s Design for Your Band
Every ensemble is different. Whether you have 20 performers or 100+, I design around your instrumentation, experience level, strengths, musical production, rehearsal needs, and goals.
When you work with CK Marching Services, you’re not simply hiring someone to write dots or arrange music. You’re gaining an additional member of your design team who is invested in your program and works to help your students succeed.
Request a Drill Quote
Contact Chris Keniley, CK Marching Services
info@ChrisKMusic.com
217-232-3786
CK Marching Services is part of Chris K Music