Band Directors Talk Shop

Music as Infrastructure: How to Pitch a High School Band Program to Administration in a Title 1 School

Carly Grace — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:53:00 +0000

For directors across the country, the lesson is clear. The language of music advocacy must evolve. A comprehensive pitch includes a dashboard of enrollment, attendance trends, leadership development, teacher development, performance visibility, and fiscal accountability. It articulates a specific ask with a defined timeline and measurable outcomes. It anticipates operational obstacles before they arise. In ... Read More about Music as Infrastructure: How to Pitch a High School Band Program to Administration in a Title 1 School

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Lessons from a Day in Beginner Flute Class

Carly Grace — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:33:12 +0000

This article will speak to a lot of flute-specific things, but so many of the things that happen in flute class are easily transferable to any beginner class that you teach. I will be sharing the class structure that really works for our students, along with some tips and tricks that help me be a ... Read More about Lessons from a Day in Beginner Flute Class

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Teaching Beginner Band in High School: How and Why

Carly Grace — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:32:02 +0000

In music education, the word “beginner” is often tied solely to elementary school use, as if starting a skill after sixth grade is somehow “too late”. But why? In nearly every other area of life–fitness, dance, the arts and other hobbies–we celebrate adult beginners and lifelong learning. As of late, many students have moved between ... Read More about Teaching Beginner Band in High School: How and Why

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Effective Rehearsal Techniques to Enhance Classroom Management in Band Rehearsals

Carly Grace — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:19:27 +0000

Managing a band rehearsal can be challenging. Students often come with different skill levels, attention spans, and energy. Without clear structure and effective rehearsal techniques, time can be wasted, and discipline issues may arise. The key to a productive band rehearsal lies in how well the rehearsal is planned and conducted. This post explores practical ... Read More about Effective Rehearsal Techniques to Enhance Classroom Management in Band Rehearsals

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How Do You Launch A Band Trip?

BandDirector — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:00:45 +0000

How Do You Launch A Band Trip? The school year is rapidly coming to a close, and you may have just returned from a Spring trip with your band. As a result, you may be thinking of where your band should go next Spring and how you can help even more students be a part ... Read More about How Do You Launch A Band Trip?

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Empowered Leaders – Inspired Performers: How Student Leadership Shapes the Culture of Our Organizations

Carly Grace — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:02:20 +0000

If culture is everything, then student leadership is one of the strongest forces shaping that culture. In our profession, we talk constantly about excellence…better tone, stronger fundamentals, recruitment, retention, competitive success. But those results do not exist on their own. They grow out of culture. Culture is not something we hope for; it is something ... Read More about Empowered Leaders – Inspired Performers: How Student Leadership Shapes the Culture of Our Organizations

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Three Ways to Make Your Ensembles, Lessons, and Classes More Accessible for Every Student, No Matter How They Learn Best

Carly Grace — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:30:32 +0000

The population of learners in our ensembles is becoming increasingly diverse in many ways, including how they learn best. For some students, a disability or diagnosis may affect their learning. Others who do not have a disability or diagnosis may just learn in ways that are unique and that require support in order for them ... Read More about Three Ways to Make Your Ensembles, Lessons, and Classes More Accessible for Every Student, No Matter How They Learn Best

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A Second Technique to Help Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Power Pose

BandDirector — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:54:27 +0000

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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One Technique to Help Band Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Inner Superhero

BandDirector — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:25:21 +0000

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 performances are next week. It’s ... Read More about One Technique to Help Band Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Inner Superhero

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What Should You Do With Your Band’s Baggage?

BandDirector — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:24:13 +0000

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 cost-effective way to get your ... Read More about What Should You Do With Your Band’s Baggage?

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