The Race Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face, my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well, excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell. They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to ... Read More about The Race – A Story to Share with your Band
Articles
Would You Rather… Band Version
Time for some fun - Would You Rather... Band Version! This game is ideal to use with concert bands and large classes. It's non-competitive and sure to have your students smiling if not laughing throughout rehearsal! This game is especially good to use to motivate students on: - warm-ups - ... Read More about Would You Rather… Band Version
Duct Tape Marimba (Practice Marimba)
Do your percussionists need a way to practice marimba over the summer? A duct tape marimba may be your answer! This picture was originally posted by Tony Lyman in Mississippi with the comment: “One of my freshmen at Petal HS earned a marimba spot this year. This is how she practices at home. ... Read More about Duct Tape Marimba (Practice Marimba)
Saxophone F# & C – There’s a Time and Place for Every Fingering
This is the second post in a series on saxophone fingering options. As I discussed in my previous article on saxophone fingering of Bb, I strongly advocate teaching all common fingerings for a particular note at the same time to avoid allowing the student to develop a favorite. In this article, ... Read More about Saxophone F# & C – There’s a Time and Place for Every Fingering
Crossing the Break on Clarinet – Smoothly!
There are many factors that contribute to clarinet players going smoothly from A to B in the staff. Many people call this "crossing the break" when really, the goal is to have NO break. I use the term "crossing the break" when talking to other teachers, but never when talking to students because I ... Read More about Crossing the Break on Clarinet – Smoothly!
Recruiting Website – Free Resources to Recruit Band Students
Looking for some fresh ideas for recruiting for your band program? If you haven't checked out this site yet (see at bottom of the article), it's worth your time to poke around a bit. It has free resources that are all very 'cool' and modern looking including: Downloadable documents (editable for ... Read More about Recruiting Website – Free Resources to Recruit Band Students