Here’s one concrete technique to help band students overcome performance anxiety. I usually teach this concept to 6th grade beginners in the spring so they can continue to utilize it as they get older and have higher stakes performances. This is how I explain it to a class: So, solo ... Read More about One Technique to Help Band Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Inner Superhero
Articles
What Should You Do With Your Band’s Baggage?
Let’s face it: your band has baggage. Not the emotional drama kind (though a couple of band parents probably have that too) we’re talking about literally transporting all the stuff you’ll need when traveling by plane. With Spring Break right around the corner, you may be wondering about the most ... Read More about What Should You Do With Your Band’s Baggage?
Bridges, Not Barriers – Turning Administrative Relationships into Advocacy
Why Some Bridges Never Get Built Every band director wants a supportive administration. Yet many of us secretly believe our administrators “just don’t get it.” The reality is usually simpler—they don’t see what we see, and they don’t speak the same language we do. They operate in data, supervision ... Read More about Bridges, Not Barriers – Turning Administrative Relationships into Advocacy
The Co-Directed Concert Band
Why Co-Direct? Team-teaching is a familiar concept in music education. It is commonly used in marching bands, musicals, and large districts with multiple band directors, most notably in Texas. However, it was not something I had encountered much of in rural upstate New York. For my first seven ... Read More about The Co-Directed Concert Band
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: What Carol Dweck’s Research Means for Band Directors
Carol Dweck, a Stanford psychologist, explains how our beliefs about our abilities shape our success. Her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, centers around two core mindsets: Fixed Mindset People with a fixed mindset believe their intelligence, talent, and abilities ... Read More about Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: What Carol Dweck’s Research Means for Band Directors
From Small Ensemble to Large Ensemble: Elevating Your Band Through Student-Led Interpretation
One of the most powerful ways to help students grow as musicians is to give them ownership of the music-making process. In a traditional concert band setting, this can be difficult. Much of the repertoire comes fully notated, with expressive markings, tempo, and dynamics already decided by the ... Read More about From Small Ensemble to Large Ensemble: Elevating Your Band Through Student-Led Interpretation
