‘Tis the season for festival prep! For many band directors, jazz band happens outside of “regular” rehearsals, and that means preparing for a big performance (like a contest) can be daunting.
Creating a Culture of Excellence in Your 2nd and 3rd Bands
The strength and depth of a program that has multiple bands depends on the vitality of its non-varsity ensembles. Many band programs have excellent varsity bands, but I believe that in the best band programs, every band is strong, whether there are two bands or ten.
The S.M.A.R.T. Approach to Music Ensemble Student Retention
Once students are in your program, it’s vital that you retain them. Retention starts with our very beginning-level students and it is vital that we focus on keeping them once they have started in the program.
4 Methods for Developing Melodic Ideas for Improvisers
One of the biggest skills any improviser should develop is the ability to create melodic ideas. The creation of these licks is integral to the jazz musician, and as teachers and performers, we want to grow this skill as quickly as possible.
3 Science-Backed Tips to Keep Your Students Motivated
As a music educator, the way in which you manage your classroom can have a major impact on students’ success.
Data Collection and Music Program Fundraising
Fundraising is a necessary “evil,” required for most of our programs to survive and flourish. Unfortunately, few music educators were also trained as accountants.
The Dallas Brass: A Healthy Upper Register on the Trumpet
The ability to play in the upper register eludes many young trumpet players and frustrates their teachers. Most people would consider this skill to be “difficult,” but I want to change the way in which we discuss and approach the upper register.
National Core Arts Standards: Meeting “Creating” Requirements in Rehearsal
I have always felt that introducing students to composition can dramatically improve their ensemble experience. NAfME agrees. The following is from the NAfME website pertaining to the National Core Arts Standards on the “Opportunity-to-Learn Standards as Needs Assessment for Ensembles at the Elementary and Secondary Grades” page:
The curriculum emphasizes the Performing process but also provides experiences in Responding and Creating to enable students to understand these two processes and their components, allowing them to transfer what they have learned in the area of Performing.
Teach Your Orchestra to Improvise
While there was a time when improvisation was seen as nonessential to string education, today most teachers agree that they would like to incorporate improvisation into their classrooms.
Embracing Similarities #2: What Orchestras Can Learn From Bands
Many commonalities exist between the band and orchestra, yet an unnecessary divide can develop between the two. In our previous post, we began to bridge this gap by looking at what bands can learn from orchestras.