SERVICES AND RATES

Custom Band Arranging & Commissioned Compositions

Elevate your ensemble’s performance with custom musical compositions and arrangements tailored specifically for your band. I specialize in creating "rehearsal-ready" music that empowers students through idiomatic writing, manageable ranges, and smart doubling of musical lines. Enjoy a seamless preparation process with cleanly formatted, readable parts and logical rehearsal marks that allow you to focus on artistry rather than logistics. All while delivering inventive, engaging writing that conveys a depth of emotion paired with craftsmanship. My music will showcase your ensemble's strengths, be tailored to your audience, and be flexibly priced. Contact Me to Start Your Quote

Honor Bands, Guest Conducting & Clinics

Take your ensemble to the next level with engaging guest conducting and clinics that serve as an invaluable extra set of ears and eyes for your program. I pride myself on meeting your performers where they are, providing the empathy and technical insight needed to walk them forward toward musical excellence. These sessions are available on-site or through affordable virtual options like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, ensuring expert guidance is accessible regardless of your location or budget. Or bring me in for your Honor Band for a memorable experience for your students. Contact Me to Schedule My Visit

Professional Development Workshops

District Fine Arts Coordinators, you can energize your band directors’ teaching with professional development workshops that provide hands-on, actionable guidance for band directors and music education students. As the co-author of "Developing Error Detection Skills in the Wind Band Educator" (GIA Publications), I offer specialized training in effective rehearsal methods, conducting, reading bands, and student leadership. My presentations have been featured at the Midwest Clinic, NAfME webinars, and multiple state MEA conventions, and are are available as in-depth day-long events designed to refine your skills and inspire your teaching. No travel budget?  No problem, as lectures to college classes and other groups can be done remotely through affordable virtual options like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Contact Me to Schedule My Services

Complete Halftime Shows

Find halftime show music for marching band programs with creative themes, cohesive concepts, and performance-ready productions. These productions can be customized to your requirements and feature:

  • Regional protection — no other band at contest performs your show

  • A 90-minute video consult with a designer on show effect and staging

  • All Tresona licensing costs and paperwork, handled for you

  • All wind and percussion parts in print-ready PDF

  • Lead synth and synth-bass parts, plus MainStage files

  • Every sound-effect patch, ready to download

  • A high-resolution show logo and artwork for programs, video boards, and merchandise

Browse these ready-made show in the store

R. Ward Miller, D.M.A.  ·  Minneapolis, Minnesota

Rate Card

Commissioned works, custom show design, clinics, and consulting
The 2026–2027 season. Every project is quoted in writing before work begins — the figures below are where the conversation starts.
01  |  Commissioned Works

Concert Band & Chamber Winds

Original works and tailored arrangements for concert, symphonic, and chamber ensembles. Fee scales with length, grade level, and exclusivity. Every commission includes the full score, all parts, a digital audio mock-up, and one full round of revisions.
Chamber or small-ensemble workUp to 3 minutes  ·  Grade 1–2
from $1,500
Short work3–4 minutes  ·  Grade 2–3
from $2,500
Standard work most requested5–7 minutes  ·  Grade 3–4
from $3,500
Extended work8–12 minutes  ·  Grade 4–5
from $5,000
Major work12+ minutes  ·  Grade 5–6
from $7,000
Additional minutes beyond your tier: $500 each. Rush delivery under 8 weeks: +25%. Exclusive or buy-out rights quoted separately.
02  |  Commissioned Works

Jazz Ensemble

New charts and custom arrangements for jazz ensemble, combo, and jazz studies programs. Includes score, all parts, rhythm-section notation, and a reference recording.
Chart3–4 minutes  ·  Medium
from $1,500
Standard work5–7 minutes  ·  Medium-Advanced
from $2,500
Extended or feature work8+ minutes
from $3,500
Custom arrangement of an existing titlePops, vocal, and show charts  ·  practice tracks optional
from $900
03  |  Commissioned Works

Consortium Commissions

The most affordable route to a brand-new work in your library. One lead ensemble commissions the piece; partner ensembles join at a reduced buy-in and share the premiere season.
Lead commissionerPays the commission fee on the concert-works scale, credited against partner buy-ins
see 01
Partner ensemble buy-inConsortium of 4–6 ensembles
$600
Partner ensemble buy-inConsortium of 7 or more ensembles
$450
Minimum consortium size: four ensembles. Every member receives the full score, all parts, a digital reference recording, and performance rights for the premiere season. Buy-ins are credited against the published price of the finished work; I retain publishing and ASCAP performance royalties.
04  |  Show Design

Custom Marching Band Shows

A show written for your band’s instrumentation, skill level, and competitive goals — with regional protection so you never meet another band on the same field.
Single custom chartAny genre, wind and percussion
from $600
Music packageFull show — winds, percussion, and electronics
from $3,500
Complete production turn-keyMusic, production design, staging consult, synth & sound-effect files, all licensing handled
from $5,500
Add drill designWith partner drill writer  ·  per full show
from $3,000
Pep band & stand tune arrangementPer title
from $450
Regional protection and all Tresona licensing and paperwork are included on complete productions. Copyright clearances for third-party selections are passed through at cost.
05  |  Show Design

Custom Indoor Winds Shows

WGI-style indoor winds productions built around your ensemble’s strengths, with complete synth and sound-design support.
Music packageComplete winds and synth arrangements, formatted for the indoor season
from $2,800
Add production design & consultationConcept, program flow, staging notes, and design-planning sessions
from $600
Add drill & staging designWith partner designer
from $2,500
Licensing & copyright paperworkHandled on your behalf
at cost
First-half delivery typically runs about three weeks from the design meeting; openers are often in hand within six weeks.
06  |  Ready to Perform

Stock Marching Shows & Charts

Proven, competitively tested productions and charts you can license today and put on the field this fall — the fastest and most affordable way to get a high-quality show.
Complete Halftime Show package best valueEverything included, nothing hidden
$2,999
Single stock marching or pep chartConcert, jazz, marching, and pep titles also available
from $60
Every Complete Halftime Show includes:
✓  Regional protection — no other band at contest performs your show
✓  A 90-minute video consult with a designer on show effect and staging
✓  All Tresona licensing costs and paperwork, handled for you
✓  All wind and percussion parts in print-ready PDF
✓  Lead synth and synth-bass parts, plus MainStage files
✓  Every sound-effect patch, ready to download
✓  A high-resolution show logo and artwork for programs, video boards, and merchandise
07  |  Advising

Consulting & Performance Analysis

An extra set of trained eyes and ears on your program — from a single run-through to a season-long partnership.
Free 30-minute video consultationZoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams
no charge
In-Depth Performance AnalysisRecorded, timestamped commentary over a full run, plus a written summary for your staff
$150
Consulting — by the hourIn person or virtual
$150 / hour
Consulting — half dayUp to 5 hours
$500 plus expenses
Consulting — full dayUp to 9 hours
$900 plus expenses
Season-long program retainerScheduled check-ins, materials review, unlimited email support
from $500 / mo.
08  |  On the Podium

Guest Clinics, Honor Bands & Adjudication

On-site or virtual, for middle school through collegiate and community ensembles. Honorarium only — travel, lodging, and meals are additional.
Single clinic or rehearsal visitUp to 5 hours, on site
$500 plus expenses
Full clinic dayUp to 8 hours  ·  multiple ensembles
$800 plus expenses
Virtual clinic60–90 minutes  ·  Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams
$200
Honor band or festival guest conductingPer event  ·  typically 2–3 days of rehearsals and performance
from $1,500 plus expenses
from $750
Professional development workshopFull day, on site  ·  rehearsal technique, error detection, conducting, reading bands, student leadership
$1,500
Professional development workshopVirtual  ·  90 minutes
$500

Terms & Fine Print

Quotes. Every engagement is quoted in writing before work begins. The rates above are starting points for the 2026–2027 season and reflect the scope, ensemble level, and timeline of your project.

Travel. No travel charge within 50 miles of Minneapolis–St. Paul. Beyond that: mileage at the current IRS rate, or round-trip airfare, plus lodging and per diem. Honor band and festival hosts typically arrange flights and hotel directly.

Licensing & copyright. Tresona licensing, print rights, and broadcast or mechanical clearances are handled by me and included on complete show packages. On custom commissions and single titles, license fees are passed through at cost with no markup.

Payment. 25% deposit schedules your project; the balance or purchase order number is due before delivery of final parts and digital assets. Invoices are issued through Dr. Ward Miller, LLC, with a W-9 provided. Net-30 terms available for schools and institutions; purchase orders, check, or ACH accepted.

Delivery. Standard turnaround is 4–8 weeks depending on scope and season. Rush delivery is available for a 25% surcharge.

Revisions & rights. One full round of revisions is included on every commissioned work; additional rounds are billed at the hourly consulting rate. Unless otherwise agreed, I retain copyright and ASCAP performance royalties, with first-performance and regional-protection windows negotiated per project.

Have a project in mind?

Tell me about your ensemble, your timeline, and your budget. I’ll send a written estimate — usually within two business days.