Docuseries March Explores Band Culture on The CW

An uplifting, incisive docuseries trains its spotlight on Historically Black Colleges and University marching bands

Fans of Netflix’s Marching Orders will want to check out a new CW program in that same vein. With March, a recently debuted docuseries currently in the midst of an eight-episode run, HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) marching band culture is seen through the experiences of the Prairie View A&M University (of Houston) marching band, whose members give blood, sweat and tears as they balance their musical passions with academia and other, crushing demands.

Over the next few weeks, viewers will become acquainted with the stories of this energetic and dedicated group, including Tre, a junior bass drummer and new father; Kaylan, senior captain of the Black Foxes dance team and a force in her own right; Nehemiah, a senior mellophone player and aspiring leader who struggles with his diplomatic skills; and Martayvia, the senior leader of the piccolo section trying to earn her way back into the band after a falling out with some members.

Leading them is Dr. Timmey Zachery, the formidable director of bands who tries to mold his charges into a cohesive unit while also providing life lessons and a paternal ear to bend.

“A lot of these kids, not only [does] the band provide them the scholarship that’s getting them to that end game of a degree,” explains Shari Scorca, an executive producer of the series along with Jamail Shelton, Cheryl Horner McDonough and Marcel Fuentes. “At the end of the day, I think that Dr. Zachery and his staff were trying to make better citizens, better people, you know, after the program. And I think that the hardest thing for a lot of them is balancing their studies with the band hours, and some of them have jobs and family responsibilities.”

Indeed, the pressures can be immense for these students. The program follows their quest to become the highest-ranked HBCU band in the country, played out via performances at homecoming and games against rivals Texas A&M and Southern. Through it all, they persevere and remain focused on their ultimate goal—a college degree and a career thereafter.

“I really want to put a focus on how hard these kids work and how great this generation of students is,” Scorca says. “I’m excited for the future after seeing these young people and how they’re all going to graduate with great degrees and go on to do great things because they have that special discipline that the band gives you.” 

March airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on The CW