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Band Directors Talk Shop

First Year Band Director Survival Guide (Great for Student Teachers Also!)

6 Aug

If you’re a first (or second or third) year band director, this is for you! Organized by subject, this gives you a quick start to researching any topic you’ll need during your school year. If you’d like a printable version for yourself or to share with colleagues or student teachers, you can download a PDF version with clickable links HERE.

Welcome!

  • What I wish I knew before becoming a band director
  • Dear future music educators
  • 30 things I learned during student teaching

Conducting and score study

  • Is it time for a conducting tune up?
  • Conducting: The three fundamental test
  • Score study and rehearsal design

Rehearsal techniques

  • How to teach rhythmic precision
  • How to teach FOCUSED listening
  • Best advice for teaching phrasing and style
  • Teaching intonation
  • Ending phrases tip

Troubleshooting

  • Why don’t they sound good?
  • What to do when they’re not getting it
  • Podium deafness

Flute

  • Flute embouchure
  • Troubleshooting flute tone
  • Mastering the art of flute articulation
  • Expanding flute dynamics
  • Solutions for common flute problems

Clarinet

  • F# on mouthpiece and barrel quick tip
  • Clarinet embouchure
  • Why are my clarinets playing flat?
  • Crossing the break smoothly
  • 4 rules to choosing the best clarinet fingering
  • “Rolling to A” isn’t enough

Saxophone

  • Saxophone Bb
  • Saxophone F# and C

Double Reeds

  • Getting the most out of your double reeds in concert band
  • De-mystifying double reeds

Trumpet

  • Beginning trumpet tips
  • When and how to use the 3rd and 1st valve slides on trumpet
  • 3 common problems and suggested solutions on trumpet
  • Tone centering

Horn

  • 10 tips for improving accuracy on the horn
  • Solving the mystery of stopped horn
  • Understanding and developing range
  • 3 places to oil horn valves

Low Brass

  • Diagnosing brass tension 
  • Glissandi exercises for trombones giving pitch to air flow
  • 4 tips to help beginner tuba players

Percussion

  • Keyboard percussion: a long-distance relationship
  • Crash cymbals 101
  • Common match grip problems
  • 4 ways tape can help your beginning percussionists 

Classroom Management

  • Creative classroom strategies
  • It all comes down to communication
  • Posture chant
  • Teaching with poverty in mind

Jazz Band

  • The basics of jazz
  • Common swing pitfalls in young jazz bands

 

Bits & Pieces

  • Instrumental reference recordings
  • Hearing protection for band directors

Inspiration

  • Why band matters
  • I love being a band director because
  • Standing on the shoulders of giants
  • The band puzzle
  • The crayon analogy
  • Being a band director is totally incredible
  • Lessons from almost a half century of teaching (3 part series)

Related Reading:
10 Mistakes of Young Band Directors
How to Not Drive Yourself Crazy as a Young Teacher

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Band Directors Talk Shop is all about helping you be a better band director so your students can be better musicians.  It is a collaborative effort of band directors, former band directors, private lesson teachers and fine arts administrators. Learn.  Posts will strive to teach you something you can use in your classroom today. ... Read More about About Us

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