This post was updated on 5/19/2023.
The winter can be a stressful for music teachers as you navigate performances, contests, academic testing, and more.
Developing the Skill of Audiation
Music educators are using the term “audiation” more and more, but what does this word mean? Researcher Dr. Edwin E.
Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal Tip: What to Listen To?
When I work with jazz ensembles on style and phrasing, I strongly emphasize that everyone needs to know what instruments they are listening to – and why.
Quick Rehearsal Tip: Creative Warmups for Jazz Ensembles
The jazz ensemble warmup is a great opportunity to teach some scales that are useful in jazz improvisation. Common modes like mixolydian or dorian will help get the players moving around their horns and will also give them some basic improvisational tools.
Quick Rehearsal Tip: Learning Tricky Rhythms
When planning to teach a new selection that includes a tricky rhythm, I suggest teaching the rhythm separately before sight reading the piece.
Pre-Band Instruments: Opening New Opportunities for Everyone
Beginning band instructors spend a lot of their time at the end of the school year recruiting future ensemble members.
Prepare Your Ensemble by Creating Musical Context
It’s no secret that detailed lesson planning is a great way to produce immediate results. However, this planning can take student learning to the next level when combined with long-term goals.
A Job and a Friend: What Every Student Needs to Stay in Band!
Retention is a topic that is important to all of us, as it can impact the quality of our band programs and our job security.
Music Education Philosophy I Learned on the Job
What we learned while earning a degree in music education only cracked the surface of what’s needed to be an effective teacher.
Classroom and Rehearsal Tips for Choral and Instrumental Programs
Having enjoyed more than thirty years in choral classrooms, I’ve had lots of experience with what works, and what doesn’t.