Ruby Music Press started with a simple goal - provide small school band programs with arrangements that showcase their strength, musicianship and passion. I understand the struggles small bands go through to find music that works for them - because I’ve directed them.

My first job was at a school that graduated 40-50 students a year.

My high school band got as large as 20 and as small as 8 (counting myself - I conducted and played tuba that year).

I spent nine years making music with those students. We played everything from flex band music to wind band standards, but no matter what I put on the stand, compromises had to be made. Parts had to be rewritten, rescored, rearranged or remixed.

Will I guarantee that you never have to open your years-old copy of Finale again? No. I suspect we’ll always have to do some extra lifting to give our students a quality music education.

But my hope is that the music you find here is worthwhile, challenging and engaging. We know that our students work just as hard as students at bigger schools. They care just as much, and the are just as capable.

It’s time that the music publishing industry reflect that.