In recent years, I have really thought about what success is for the students in my band program. I have thought about the exemplary bands in Texas and the successful directors that led those programs. I have also thought about how everyone’s situation is unique and that there must be a better measurement of success. In ... Read More about Teaching the Individual Student in a Classroom Setting

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It’s no surprise to any band director that when asked to express preference for a beginning instrument, young band students are not typically drawn to the bassoon. Bassoon is a rare, challenging instrument, and students may not know anybody who plays it. At the same time, double reed instruments can be intimidating to band directors.  ... Read More about Bassooner the Better: Tips for Starting Beginner Bassoonists

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Merriam-Webster defines fluent as capable of moving with ease and grace, effortlessly smooth and flowing, and having or showing mastery of a subject or skill. Musicians require fluency to perform with ease, and mastery of fundamentals builds fluency. Fluency leads to freedom. Consider this: What should a flute player know how to do, when should ... Read More about From Fundamentals to Fluency: Flute Teaching for Non-Flutist Band Directors

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What is your best advice for concert and contest day preparation? – Readers’ Collaborative Post  In our recent survey, we asked Band Directors Talk Shop readers, “What is your best advice for concert or contest day preparation?” With hundreds of responses to the survey, we came up with this categorized list of your answers. Thanks so much to all ... Read More about What Is Your Best Advice for Concert or Contest Day Preparation?

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Music festivals – they can be your worst nightmare, or your absolute best friend. In my thirty-five year teaching career, I found festivals were some of the very best moments in shaping both the musical development of my students as well as my own personal growth as an educator. Many festivals are sponsored by their ... Read More about Let Festivals Become Your Program’s BFF

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Channel your inner Shakespeare when planning your next band trip. As Shakespeare once wrote, “all the world’s a stage.” For performance groups, that idiom can become literal! For many band directors, the decision to perform while traveling is not an easy one; it can incur additional expenses and logistics, and make an otherwise laidback trip ... Read More about To Perform or Not to Perform?

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Video games are a waste of time for men with nothing else to do. Real brains don’t do that.       ~ Ray Bradbury Video games have been blamed for many things in our modern society, but I offer a radically different view: I think that video games are far from the problem… in fact, they ... Read More about Beyond “Gamification”

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Making the right instructional choices to develop your students can be overwhelming if you don’t take the time to consider the musical nourishment needs for your students’ level of development. There are so many instructional options to choose from, and you want to make sure that your choices are the genesis to a sequential path ... Read More about Musical Nourishment: Designing Your Daily Instructional Menu

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Changing the heads on your timpani can seem like a daunting and expensive task to complete on top of everything else on your to-do list. This article is designed to aid you in the process of renewing your timpani sound by changing out your heads. You will notice almost immediately the difference in sound and ... Read More about Timpani Head Change

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Are you looking for some new posters or colors to brighten up your space? Our Composer Quotes Music Posters are FREE, and can be used in many creative ways! Read about a few of them below: With 8 posters available you could spread all 8 around the room for fun decorations, or use them to ... Read More about FREE Music Posters Composer Quotes

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We have chosen a fishing theme for this article not only because it is fun and unique but also because tuning, like fishing, requires patience, appropriate tools, and knowledge of the environment. A successful fisherman/fisherwoman has a well-stocked tackle box and is familiar with all the available tools at his/her disposal. In much the same ... Read More about THE TUNING TACKLE BOX: Reeling In Your Horn Section’s Intonation

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As a former band director, campus administrator, and Director of Performing and Visual Arts for my district, I interacted with a number of administrators on a variety of topics. What I have discovered in my 31 years in education, and now another 10 in the music business world, is that communication is key to ensuring ... Read More about Communicating With Your Administrators: How To Talk So Principals Will Listen

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What are your “non-negotiables?” You know, those key points on which your band program is built? If you’re like many, COVID and virtual teaching has created some long-term issues for the students who are in our programs. Where do you start fixing those issues? For me, it was with the non-negotiables. Posture: How do my ... Read More about It’s Time to Go Back to the “Non-negotiables”

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Tips for Teaching Trombone – Readers’ Collaborative Post  In our recent survey, we asked Band Directors Talk Shop readers, “What is your very best advice for teaching trombone?” With hundreds of responses to the survey, we came up with this categorized list of your answers. Thanks so much to all of our readers who took time to fill out the ... Read More about Tips for Teaching Trombone

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A child’s first beginning band concert is always extra special. It is the first time the students will be performing for an audience, and the first time their parents, family and friends will get to see them in a concert setting and hear the progress they have made since the beginning of the year. The ... Read More about Best Photo Op Ever

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Coffee, Cookies & Carols is an annual event in our school that teachers and students alike look forward to. 7th/8th grade students (advanced band members) perform holiday ensembles. The teachers, administration, custodians, cafeteria workers, and teacher aids are invited to the band hall for a morning of festive music. Our band parents provide cookies and ... Read More about Coffee, Cookies & Carols in the Band Hall

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What can I do right now to make ‘future-me’ a happier, more effective band director? Transitioning from being a college student to a public school teacher is a challenge, and in this article, we hope to shed light on organizational topics/challenges to help young band directors find their way in the confusing world of band ... Read More about Organizing for Success as a Novice Band Director

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Do you ever find yourself standing at the door of the band instrument storage room thinking – What instruments do I have? What condition are they in? What student has which instrument? Why is there so much duct tape holding these instruments together? When was the last time these instruments were replaced/repaired? If you find ... Read More about Where Are My Instruments?

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Choosing a great destination for your performance group is a huge part of planning a successful trip. It has to be exciting enough for students to want to go but also have enriching performance opportunities to help them grow as musicians. With all that in mind, here are our top 3 destinations for performance groups ... Read More about Top Destinations for Performance Groups for ’23

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Advice for Teaching Small Concert Bands – Readers’ Collaborative Post  In our recent survey, we asked Band Directors Talk Shop readers, “If you’ve had the experience, what are some challenges and/or advice for teaching (and adapting to) small concert bands?” With hundreds of responses to the survey, we came up with this categorized list of your answers. Thanks so ... Read More about Advice for Teaching Small Concert Bands

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