Practice Archives - Band Directors Talk Shop https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/category/practice/ Learn. Share. Inspire. Thu, 21 May 2026 11:54:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2-2-150x150.png Practice Archives - Band Directors Talk Shop https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/category/practice/ 32 32 How to get Band Students to Practice Over the Summer: 5 Tools to Try https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-get-band-students-to-practice-over-the-summer-5-tools-to-try/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-get-band-students-to-practice-over-the-summer-5-tools-to-try/#respond Thu, 14 May 2026 02:26:37 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=14163 We all know that consistent practice is required for musicians to maintain skills over the summer. However, getting band kids to practice over the summer can be a challenge. Here are some tools you can hand out before the end of the year to motivate students and encourage summer practice. Hey! I Know That Song! ... Read More about How to get Band Students to Practice Over the Summer: 5 Tools to Try

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-get-band-students-to-practice-over-the-summer-5-tools-to-try/feed/ 0 A Second Technique to Help Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Power Pose https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/help-students-overcome-performance-anxiety-power-pose/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/help-students-overcome-performance-anxiety-power-pose/#respond Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:54:27 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=14017 After I’ve taught kids all about their “inner superpower” (which you can read about here), the next step is the help them learn to further handle the physical aspects of performance anxiety in the moments before a big performance. This lesson is taken from the wonderful TED talk by Amy Cuddy. More on that in ... Read More about A Second Technique to Help Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Power Pose

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/help-students-overcome-performance-anxiety-power-pose/feed/ 0 Empowering the Young Band Student: Making It Safe to Attempt & Safe to Fail https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/empowering-the-young-band-student-making-it-safe-to-attempt-safe-to-fail/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/empowering-the-young-band-student-making-it-safe-to-attempt-safe-to-fail/#respond Sun, 03 Nov 2024 01:33:40 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=13358 In today’s complex educational landscape, band directors are tasked with far more than just teaching music. In addition to helping students learn to play instruments and prepare for concerts, we must also motivate them, foster resilience, support their emotional development, and work to create a nurturing environment. Our role extends beyond notes and rhythms; we ... Read More about Empowering the Young Band Student: Making It Safe to Attempt & Safe to Fail

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/empowering-the-young-band-student-making-it-safe-to-attempt-safe-to-fail/feed/ 0 Amazing (and free) Videos For Instrumentalists (Quick Tip) https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/amazing-and-free-videos-for-instrumentalists/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/amazing-and-free-videos-for-instrumentalists/#respond Sun, 10 Dec 2023 14:24:30 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12374 The Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington has created a wonderful free resource for instrumentalists. Their Instrument Studies for Eyes and Ears allows you to access a variety of exercises for wind, string, and percussion instruments. They offer unique exercises for each instrument including range building, technique, articulation studies, scales, etc. Each instrument ... Read More about Amazing (and free) Videos For Instrumentalists (Quick Tip)

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/amazing-and-free-videos-for-instrumentalists/feed/ 0 Play it again…in all 12 keys! https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/play-it-againin-all-12-keys/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/play-it-againin-all-12-keys/#respond Sat, 04 Nov 2023 03:26:21 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12650 As students move up in band programs, it is vital they continue to develop their technical skills and ability to read and perform music outside the common keys of Bb, Eb, and F. Many band programs have curricular goals that students learn and perform scales in all 12 keys. While this might be a common ... Read More about Play it again…in all 12 keys!

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/play-it-againin-all-12-keys/feed/ 0 Practicing with Purpose – What’s the Big IDEA? https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practicing-with-purpose-whats-the-big-idea/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practicing-with-purpose-whats-the-big-idea/#respond Sat, 01 Apr 2023 23:51:35 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12297 Have you ever had a student lie on a practice record? Would you like to see your students become more independent in their at home practice? It’s safe to assume the answer to both questions is a resounding “YES!” and that’s where the Big IDEA comes in. IDEA is an acronym designed to help teach ... Read More about Practicing with Purpose – What’s the Big IDEA?

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practicing-with-purpose-whats-the-big-idea/feed/ 0 Beyond “Gamification” https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-gamification/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-gamification/#respond Tue, 31 Jan 2023 02:00:28 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12146 Video games are a waste of time for men with nothing else to do. Real brains don’t do that.       ~ Ray Bradbury Video games have been blamed for many things in our modern society, but I offer a radically different view: I think that video games are far from the problem… in fact, they ... Read More about Beyond “Gamification”

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-gamification/feed/ 0 How to Make Your Own Music Stand https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-quick-tip-make-your-own-music-stand/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-quick-tip-make-your-own-music-stand/#respond Tue, 22 Mar 2022 23:22:33 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=11246 How to Make Your Own Music Stand for Home Practice!  This project requires scissors. Ask an adult to help you and be careful! Step 1: Start with a cardboard box opened up flat.  This one is a 15” x 12” x 10” box, but you can use whatever size you have handy!        ... Read More about How to Make Your Own Music Stand

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-quick-tip-make-your-own-music-stand/feed/ 0 Practice Challenges from “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practice-challenges-from-the-presidents-own-united-states-marine-band/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practice-challenges-from-the-presidents-own-united-states-marine-band/#respond Sun, 29 Aug 2021 20:58:57 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=10826 The U.S. Marine Band has a TON of resources that can help music educators and they are FREE! Their latest resource is a set of 12 practice challenges that offer musicians an opportunity to improve specific skills in fun and creative ways. All 12 challenges can be found by clicking this link. Or you can ... Read More about Practice Challenges from “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practice-challenges-from-the-presidents-own-united-states-marine-band/feed/ 0 Build Your Warm-Up-Build Your Band–Part 4 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/build-your-warm-up-build-your-band-part-4/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/build-your-warm-up-build-your-band-part-4/#respond Sun, 04 Apr 2021 13:27:06 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=10229 This is the final article in a series discussing the process of building a warm-up that will grow your group’s abilities through creating connections. In this post, I will look at some warm-ups that you can provide students with for individual practice. These also work great in sectionals. Instrument-Specific Warm-Up Exercises: Woodwinds: Practice in the ... Read More about Build Your Warm-Up-Build Your Band–Part 4

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