I began my teaching career in the 1980s when cassette tapes gave way to CDs. Immediately, I built a collection of compact discs so that my band students could hear the artistic potential within the pieces that they were learning.

Then it happened. I attended a workshop in which the “expert” warned against playing recordings in the classroom: “If you play recordings, your students will play by ear and never learn to read music.” How odd, I thought. If I coached basketball, wouldn’t I want my players to watch videos of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

Not taking the expert’s advice, I continued to build a collection of CDs and found time during rehearsals to share these recordings with my students. After all, listening, evaluating, and critiquing are important activities that contribute to total musicianship.

As time passed and I began to have my own music published, I became affiliated with publishers who shared my belief in the importance and power of professional demonstration recordings. And, while these recordings are produced at profound cost, they are critical to the teaching-learning process.

As you peruse recordings on this website, know that the best musicians, conductors, performers, and engineers in the United States are at work. Take advantage of every recorded note. Listen, evaluate, critique. And if you are brave, record your students and let them hear themselves. Self-correcting is a powerful teaching tool. Who knows…the next Michael Jordan of music may be in your ensemble.

FEARLESS DREAMS RECORDING CREDITS

A very special thanks to Susan Smith, the RWS production team, conductor Brian Balmages, and engineer Kendall Thomsen. Thanks also to the world-class musicians from the U.S. Military Bands who brought this piece to life!