Over the years, many quotes have caused me to stop and reflect. But the ones that hit [...]

Dear First-Year Music Teacher, Welcome to the profession! You’ve made it this far, and it's clear that [...]

Over many years I’ve heard dozens of music educators tell students to “have a pencil on your [...]

As a long time music educator one of the roadblocks I’ve seen repeatedly is students who convince [...]

Over many years as a music educator two of the skills that young musicians have trouble developing [...]

Q: What do award ribbons, slogan contests, disco balls, and nursing homes have in common? A: They [...]

At some point in your career as a band director you may be asked to take on [...]

Fundraising for today’s Band Director I have a unique perspective on the role of fundraising in music [...]

I think one of the most fun experiences I ever had with a group of 7th graders [...]

The most common errors band directors make, told from the perspective of an adjudicator, composer, and music [...]

Score Study from the Inside Out “You have to study scores.” You’ve been told this, no doubt [...]

During my years in the classroom, I strived to teach responsible musicianship through all interactions with my [...]

One of the great Robert W. Smith's final compositions, A Legacy of Hope was written as a [...]

Optimizing Percussion Section Efficiency: A Guide for Conductors and Music Educators Attending numerous band concerts reveals a [...]

COMPREHENSIVE MUSICIANSHIP – CREATING A CLASSROOM FOR ALL The BIG Question: In our effort to rehearse, do [...]

Retaining Students through Personal Relationships Building personal relationships with students is crucial for retention in music ensembles. [...]

Being an Impactful Music Teacher Being an impactful music teacher is crucial because music education has numerous [...]

A rondo is a musical form in which one main theme (called the refrain) alternates with contrasting [...]

Commissioning Music: Expanding Repertoire and Promoting Diversity Commissioning music is crucial for expanding the repertoire and promoting [...]

The mind can only withstand what the butt can endure. Be mindful of making your concerts too long [...]

Music should create a sense of forward momentum. Teach your students to look ahead and always be [...]

Having your young musicians play long tones while thinking about their embouchure will help them understand one [...]

If you want to give your band a great gift, spend time on how your young musicians [...]

Listening and hearing are two different things. Hearing is involuntary while, listening is voluntary. A student hears [...]

I began my teaching career in the 1980s when cassette tapes gave way to CDs. Immediately, I [...]