Before the marching season can get started, there are tons of things to do. Marching band is really not a “season” but a year-round endeavor!
Taps, Echo Taps, and Last Post Available for Free in MakeMusic Cloud
I started playing taps for the local VFW, performing in military funerals, when I was twelve years old. This was a great opportunity to honor the military service of members of our community and gain experience in performing for strangers.
Getting Kids to Efficiently Learn Marching Band Music
Marching band season is almost upon us. That means there’s a lot of music to learn, and MakeMusic Cloud can help.
Classroom Management Part 2: Large Ensemble Classrooms
The two words we hear in education more than anything else: Classroom Management. One of my former colleagues and close friends has a plaque in her office that says, “I teach music, what’s your superpower?” No group of words has ever been more true.
Classroom Management Part 1: General Music Classrooms
The two words we hear in education more than anything else: Classroom Management. One of my former colleagues and close friends has a plaque in her office that says, “I teach music, what’s your superpower?” No group of words has ever been more true.
“Why Doesn’t My Band Sound Better?”
Top 10 Band Rehearsal Mistakes
Many band directors are frustrated by sub-par performances from their ensembles and mistakenly blame their students. My 33 years of conducting and observing have helped me identify some common band rehearsal mistakes that lead to poor performances.
Power Up! Smart Solutions for Solo Contest
Alicia DeSoto & Chris Meredith are currently band directors at Lewisville High School in Lewisville ISD, TX.
We have been using MakeMusic Cloud (formerly SmartMusic) for a number of years now and one of our favorite applications is the impact of providing students with accompaniment tracks for their solos that can be adjusted for the performance speed of each individual performer.
Festival Music in MakeMusic Cloud
What an exciting (and busy) time of year! No doubt you are deep into rehearsals for your December performances and then a well-deserved holiday break.
Power Up! The Foundations of Music Literacy, Part 2
Alicia DeSoto & Chris Meredith are currently band directors at Lewisville High School in Lewisville ISD, TX.
Literacy: the ability to read and write
Music Literacy: the ability to read, write, and play music
Click here to read part 1.
Open this when you need some inspiration
Thank you for your work in music education! Even on the hardest days, your students are still so lucky to call you their teacher.