Solo & Ensemble Archives - Band Directors Talk Shop https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/category/solo-ensemble/ Learn. Share. Inspire. Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:03:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2-2-150x150.png Solo & Ensemble Archives - Band Directors Talk Shop https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/category/solo-ensemble/ 32 32 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 Flying Solo: Fostering Musical Independence in the Middle School Band Room https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/flying-solo-fostering-musical-independence-in-the-middle-school-band-room/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/flying-solo-fostering-musical-independence-in-the-middle-school-band-room/#respond Sun, 14 Jan 2024 13:25:36 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12763 If you’re like most people, you probably remember the first time you had to play by yourself in band class. And if you’re like most people, the reason you remember is probably because it was some degree of terrifying and possibly even traumatic. As band directors, we all want to provide a safe and comfortable ... Read More about Flying Solo: Fostering Musical Independence in the Middle School Band Room

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/flying-solo-fostering-musical-independence-in-the-middle-school-band-room/feed/ 0 The 100 Gig Challenge: Extraordinary Engagement through Service Learning https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/the-100-gig-challenge-extraordinary-engagement-through-service-learning/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/the-100-gig-challenge-extraordinary-engagement-through-service-learning/#respond Sun, 18 Feb 2018 03:07:32 +0000 http://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=4771 A few years ago I challenged my students to a tall order: play 100 times (or more) collectively in chamber ensembles in their community throughout the school year. What began as a service learning project aimed at getting our students to embrace chamber music and share their music with the community suddenly became something much ... Read More about The 100 Gig Challenge: Extraordinary Engagement through Service Learning

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/the-100-gig-challenge-extraordinary-engagement-through-service-learning/feed/ 0 The Importance of Playing Duets (TBA Archives) https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/importance-playing-duets/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/importance-playing-duets/#respond Mon, 27 Feb 2017 03:24:21 +0000 http://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=1286 The TBA Archives refer to the Texas Bandmasters Association archives of clinic handouts from past conventions.  Conventions are one of the best ways to learn new things, spark new ideas, ask questions and be inspired.  The only problem is all of that new knowledge is thrown at us in about a 48-hour window and it’s ... Read More about The Importance of Playing Duets (TBA Archives)

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/importance-playing-duets/feed/ 0 A Note Before a Rest… https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/note-rest-longer-note-note/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/note-rest-longer-note-note/#respond Sun, 07 Feb 2016 14:54:23 +0000 http://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=593 Have you ever heard a colleague use a phrase and thought “Yes! Those are the perfect words!” And from then on you repeat those words over and over when teaching that concept? That happened to me a few years ago. I was walking through a rehearsal and I caught one of those phrases. The director told the students, “A note ... Read More about A Note Before a Rest…

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/note-rest-longer-note-note/feed/ 0 Middle School Solos – Tried & True Favorites https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/class-3-solos-tried-true-favorites/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/class-3-solos-tried-true-favorites/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2016 19:32:32 +0000 http://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=309 These recommendations are the top responses from a survey of 30+ very experienced band directors.  Be aware: some of the listed songs may have multiple movements and only certain movements are the correct level of difficulty.  Books are notated. These results are from the late 1990s that took place at the WTAMU band camp and ... Read More about Middle School Solos – Tried & True Favorites

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