At Six to Five Productions, we believe great design shouldn’t be limited by budget. Too many programs settle for pre-packaged shows that don’t match their players or their vision. Our mission is to change that. We offer high-quality shows at accessible prices — and the power to customize them so they fit your ensemble perfectly. From first-time competitors to championship-level groups, we give every program the tools to create a show worth performing.

John Max McFarland is an active composer/arranger in the marching arts.  He currently serves as the Program Coordinator, Percussion Arranger, and Sound Designer for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. Previously he served as the Program Coordinator for Legends Drum and Bugle Corps (Kalamazoo, MI) from 2016 to 2022. From 2013 to 2015 he was the percussion composer/arranger for Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  In 2020 John joined The White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps (Rochester, NY) as show coordinator and battery arranger.  He is still involved with the corps assuming roles as the percussion arranger and music coordinator.  John is also the percussion arranger for the Rogues Hollow Regiment based in Doylestown, Ohio. In 2018 he was the percussion caption head and arranger for the Erie Thunderbirds Drum and Bugle Corps in Erie, PA. 

In WGI, John has composed and arranged for many ensembles ranging from Scholastic A Class to Independent World Class. Many notable clients include Eastside Fury (2012-2014), Notre Dame Indoor Percussion Ensemble (PIA Finalists 2012, 2013) Ferndale Independent Percussion (2015 PIA Silver Medalists), Farmington United Percussion (2017 PIA Silver Medalists), and Decatur Central Indoor Percussion (2018 PSCA Gold Medalists). John also composes marching band shows for high schools and colleges all over the country.

From 2014 – 2020 John was heavily involved with the Cleveland Browns Drumline acting as their Program Director, Music Composer, as well as Game Day Performer.

John is also the orchestrator for ‘Infamous’; a brand new, groundbreaking musical by Playwright David Owen Michaels, which tells the story of the Abraham Lincoln assassination through the eyes of John Wilkes Booth.

John received his degrees in Composition (B.M.) and Percussion Performance (B.M., M.M.) from Western Michigan University. He studied percussion under Judy Moonert. John has performed as the principal percussionist and Principal Timpanist for the University Concert and Symphonic Bands, as well as the University Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony and Battle Creek Symphony as a substitute percussionist.

John was also a marching member of the Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps as well as the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps. John studied composition under Curtis Curtis-Smith, Dr. Richard Adams, and Dr. Robert Ricci. His compositions and arrangements have received international recognition with performances all over the United States as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia. John is also the owner and founder of Six to Five Productions, LLC a marching arts music publishing company where many of his original shows for marching band, winter percussion, and concert percussion can be found.

John resides in Medina, Ohio with his wife Sydney, his son Camden, his daughter Cadence, and his 2 dogs (Tippy and Ozark)