Sometimes I am amazed at where I ended up in music considering that I almost quit band after my eighth-grade year.
Working Towards a Culturally Responsive Bandroom
Emerging research in the identity development of our students – and its impact on motivation and engagement – suggests the importance of using a culturally responsive pedagogy.
How Band Directors Can Turn Less into More
Over the years I have taught in many different places and in many different types of situations, both at the high school and university levels.
Motivating the Individual in the Ensemble Classroom
Finding ways to motivate the students in our large ensembles is among our most important challenges. To provide you with strategies to do so, this post draws from material originally presented at the 2017 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Building a Positive Culture in Your Music Program
Developing a positive culture starts from the top. We must motivate our students to work hard for us by working hard for them.
Finding Ways to Help Every Student
During my last year of teaching I decided to take on directing the fifth- and sixth-grade after-school jazz band on top of my regular high school teaching schedule.
Tips For Your Jazz Band Guitarist
With very little background in playing guitar, and no background in jazz guitar pedagogy, many band directors find themselves at a loss on how to help their jazz band guitarist.
Instrumental Teachers in General Music: Teaching Outside Your Comfort Zone?
Let’s set the stage: you have an instrumental performance degree and a teaching degree in band or orchestra. After graduation, you find yourself working as a long-term substitute teaching band or orchestra.
Copyright and Your Marching Band
When planning a marching band show, one of the first decisions to make is whether to go with a stock arrangement, write a custom show, or hire someone to do so for you.
Improving Brass Tone Production
As the school year is now in full swing, let’s turn our thoughts to brass tone production. No doubt, your students are all playing a lot right now and are probably working the muscles more than ever before.