“You don’t know what you don’t know” is a saying that accurately describes the first years of teaching. Truth is, some of us had no clue what we were getting into. With such a full schedule in college, it makes it nearly impossible to get adequate experience leading a band, and let’s face it ... Read More about College Years – What Was Left Out
Search Results for: teaching strategies
First Year Band Director Survival Guide (Great for Student Teachers Also!)
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 ... Read More about First Year Band Director Survival Guide (Great for Student Teachers Also!)
Recruiting & Retaining Minority Student Musicians
Before I transitioned to higher education, I spent 10 years as a middle school and high school band director in Title I schools. When I began teaching, one struggle I had to address was low enrollment. By empowering my students and collaborating with parents, administrators, and community partners, ... Read More about Recruiting & Retaining Minority Student Musicians
Making the Most of Listening
Great recordings--are you using them in your teaching? We are fortunate to have a wealth of high-quality band recordings that are easy to obtain. Probably every director would agree that if their students listen to great compositions played by awesome concert bands, they will play better. However, ... Read More about Making the Most of Listening
6 Benefits of Adding Rhythm Ear Training to Your Band Curriculum
According to Wikipedia, "Ear training (or aural skills) is a music theory study in which musicians learn to identify pitches, intervals, melody, chords, rhythms, solfeges, and other basic elements of music, solely by hearing. The application of this skill is analogous to taking dictation in ... Read More about 6 Benefits of Adding Rhythm Ear Training to Your Band Curriculum
How Do You Teach Rhythmic Precision?
In a Band Directors Talk Shop survey, we asked readers, “What is the best phrase, analogy, or activity you've ever heard/used regarding the teaching of rhythmic precision?” With hundreds of responses to the survey, we came up with this categorized list of your answers. Thanks so much to all of our ... Read More about How Do You Teach Rhythmic Precision?
What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Band Director
In our recent survey, we asked Band Directors Talk Shop readers, “What do you wish you had learned or been been told before becoming a band director?” With hundreds of responses to the survey, we came up with this categorized list of your answers to the question. Thanks so much to all of our ... Read More about What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Band Director
