Conduct Backwards? What? Do you ever get the feeling you are hearing what you want to hear in band rehearsal? Maybe you think the trumpets are playing short because they just look like they are trying to play short. Maybe you think the band is doing a crescendo because you see them leaning ... Read More about Conduct Backwards – Quick Tip
Articles
Sightreading Room Hints for Young Teachers
The following article os based on the UIL sightreading rules in Texas up through 2022. Those rules have since been revised. Your state may have slightly different guidelines. Many of these hints will apply to any contest/festival situation. Terms such as general explanation, summary explanation as ... Read More about Sightreading Room Hints for Young Teachers
Airplane Mode – Practice Tips for the Modern Musician Part 2
This is the second post of a three part series about Practice tips for the Modern Musician. In my last article, “Use a Stopwatch, Not a Timer!” I discussed the importance of goal-oriented practice sessions instead of just watching the clock. In this article, I want to extol the virtues of ... Read More about Airplane Mode – Practice Tips for the Modern Musician Part 2
You Know You’re a Band Director When…
1. Turn signals blinking out of order drive you nuts. 2. You are perfectly comfortable telling kids to dump spit on the floor. 3. You know to pronounce the word 'sectional' very carefully. 4. When you meet a middle school age child, you find yourself thinking about how ‘that kid has a ... Read More about You Know You’re a Band Director When…
Measure Mix-Up – Teaching Beginning Band with Games
This Measure Mix-Up game will involve moving around and working as a team. I suggest that students do not have their instruments for it. You can move to another part of the room or have them play the game before they get their instruments out of their cases at the beginning of class. This game is ... Read More about Measure Mix-Up – Teaching Beginning Band with Games
Diagnosing Brass Tension and Helping Students Achieve a Better Sound.
This is the 2nd part of a post about brass tension - read part 1 here. Diagnosing the Real Cause First, you must figure out where the tension is truly coming from. When working with students, I have found there are three main sources of most tense sounds: Face/Head Body Air Since ... Read More about Diagnosing Brass Tension and Helping Students Achieve a Better Sound.
