SBO+

SongFarm, a music education nonprofit coalition of musicians, educators, businesses and philanthropists, becomes a part of Give A Note Foundation; ...

TI:ME Unveils New Website and Opens Membership to All for Free

Empowering Music Educators with Cutting-Edge Technology Resources Technology In Music Education (TI:ME), a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing music education ...

From Overwhelmed to Fulfilled in Music Education

Mental health is a serious concern for educators in general and music educators specifically. With that in mind, this spring, ...

Lessons Through Service

As an organization that is over 117 years old, NAfME leaders are committed to realizing the association’s mission of being ...

Introducing Tomplay: Interactive Sheet Music – Play Along With Recordings by Professional Musicians

Unleash your students’ musical potential with Tomplay’s latest version, bringing you unparalleled access to a vast library of instruments and ...

Finding Success in Small Schools

I have a confession. When I graduated from college, I aspired to work my way up from a small school program ...

Teaching Students with Differences and Disabilities in Music Classrooms and Ensembles

I am often asked to provide strategies for teaching students with differences and disabilities. To me, it is more important that ...

Commentary

Making JOY Your Tonal Center: The Six Keys to Fulfillment and Well-being in Teaching Music

What are some of the most joyous moments you have experienced in your life? Were you in nature? Were you with your family? Was it during an adventure? Was it when you were engaged in an act of service? Was it while you were teaching music? As you reflect on the role of joy in […]

Tune Up Your Teaching: The Hottest Summer PD Trends for Music Educators!

As the summer sun rises high in the sky, it’s not just the temperature that’s heating up for music educators—it’s also the opportunities for professional development (PD) that are hitting a crescendo. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your teaching skills, explore new methodologies, or connect with like-minded professionals, there’s a selection of options awaiting you. […]

Middle School Bands and Secondary Instruments

Fun! Challenging! Exciting! Rewarding! Advantageous! Do your middle and high school band members double on different instruments? I have found through the years that with my band program, having kids who play multiple instruments can really benefit your bands while keeping things fresh and exciting for your students. I teach in De Soto, Kansas which […]

ColorGuard: Electrifying Purpose and Bold Pageantry for Everyone

When most people think of taking an elective or joining a school activity, they often believe they must choose between a sport, club, or performing arts class. Or worse, they believe that only ‘certain kinds of people’ can truly ‘make it’ in their school’s marching band or the dance team. This is where the color […]

“Making the Case That Good Things Don’t Always Come to Those Who Wait”

As the back-to-school season comes crashing down around us and summertime relaxation wanes, most of our time will soon be spent thinking about all the logistics that encompass running a music program. We have most likely already started formulating plans for our season’s repertoire, begun to fret over our program’s numbers, and started to steel […]

Teaching by Ear, Learning by Heart Creative Musical Arts at New England Conservatory – Part III

SBO+: This is part 3 in a series of articles by faculty members of the NEC who share their tips on teaching deeper listening. Jerry Leake, world percussion: Harmonic Time – Your Body as the Instrument Over the years I have developed a body and language-based rhythm method called “Harmonic Time” that educates musicians of […]

Patriotic Music Binds Us to the Idea of America

SBO+: Well-known author and frequent SBO+ contributor Harvey Rachlin provides this article on the important role music plays in developing and sustaining our national identity. In conversations with Harvey about this article, I suggested the traditional “American musical canon” needs to be expanded to include songs relevant to the diverse nation we have become, to […]

Getting to the Point! Comparative Articulation for Woodwinds – Part 2

Before we delve into this in part 2 (see the February issue for part 1), a word of caution: All students are different. Every human being has a diverse morphology, and we all perceive instructions differently. While the below syllables tend to work well for most young musicians, be prepared to alter these instructions, depending […]

Teachers Need Self-Care, Too: Customized Routines to Combat School Stress

Self-care is the most important guiding principle to have at the forefront of any music education position. Whether you are starting from scratch, rebuilding, or maintaining an already great music program, it is important to set boundaries for yourself, so the work doesn’t become overwhelming. There will always be documents to sign, names and faces […]

Inspiring the Next Generation of Music Educators

It is no secret schools in the United States face the most significant educator workforce shortage in our Nation’s history. The combination of the extensive number of educators leaving the field as the world emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing encroachment of political issues into the schools, and a significant decrease in the number […]

Getting to the Point! Comparative Articulation for Woodwinds – Part 1

A director addresses their students: “Brass, let’s articulate some eighth notes: Ta ta Ta ta Ta ta Ta ta! 1! 2! 3! 4!” Perhaps there is a stray misfire here or there, but the results are quite pleasing! The director then draws their attention to the woodwinds: “Y’all are next! Ta ta Ta ta Ta […]

Strategies for Improving the Sound of Your Wind Section

Achieving a cohesive and balanced sound within the wind section of your orchestra or band can present many challenges. Here are a few strategies to maximize the beauty of sound in your ensemble. Listening to develop a tonal concept Perhaps the most effective way for young musicians to begin developing their sound is to have […]

On the Road Again: A Return to Travel

As the percentage of Americans who have received Covid-19 vaccines continues to climb, SBO reached out again to travel company Worldstrides to learn more about the current status of student travel.

Who Says You Can’t Attend a Festival This School Year?

In the year of virtual-everything, Worldstrides pivots with virtual festivals. Their virtual festival series can help your students not miss out on these important ways they show off their work.

Why Having a Trusted Travel Partner is More Important Than Ever

Student travel is returning, and we learned a lot from COVID-19 cancelations and disappointments. As you start to plan for returning to travel in the next school year, learn why hiring a great travel planner is more important than ever before.

’But it’s a theme park…’ – Justifying a performance trip to the Walt Disney World Resort

It doesn’t look like much on paper, and if you have never been there with a student group, explaining that a trip to a theme park is educational can be quite a challenge. We know that the terms “fun” and “educational” are not mutually exclusive, but you may encounter an administrator, parent or school board member who sees your endeavor as a waste of resources. This couldn’t be further from the truth, especially if your plans are taking you to the Walt Disney World® Resort. Here’s what you should know to help you justify a performance trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth:

First, it’s important to remember that every performance trip has educational value. Whether you choose some of the world’s most beloved theme parks in Central Florida, a regional park closer to home, or a trip which doesn’t include theme parks at all, your students will come away with life experiences that can’t be delivered in the classroom. Performing in a new, unfamiliar venue shows your students how to adapt to changes and deliver results. The experience fosters a sense of teamwork and camaraderie within your members.

Taking your students “out of the bubble” of their day-to-day lives expands their horizons beyond what is familiar to them, encourages them to build stronger bonds with peers (and with you, their educator), and exposes them to a performance audience beyond the doting families to which they are accustomed. The responsibility of showing up on time, remembering black socks, and managing one’s own souvenir or meal money is a significant step toward the independence your students will need in their adult life.

While nearly every destination – across the country or around the world – provides these learning experiences, there are certainly destinations which deliver a top-quality educational travel experience consistently. Topping my list: the Walt Disney World® Resort.

On the Road: Destination Cuba

In the Plaza de Armas in Old Havana, Cuba, student musicians perspired in the tropical humidity combined with the heat of performance. 120 members of the band, which consists of three concert bands and two jazz ensembles, along with twenty parents and teachers, departed for Havana via Miami on April 10th, 2014 and returned on April 16th. What we saw, heard, and learned on our trip gave us a remarkable perspective on a corner of the world that is controversially regarded by the international community.On our first full day in Havana, we visited an elementary/middle school designed for students who want to pursue music. Applicants to the school go through a rigorous musical aptitude audition process. The students take music classes for half the day and academic classes for half the day, heavily focusing on music beginning at a very young age.

A conversation with the author of Travel 101: A band director's guide for planning student travel

Andrew Yaracs recently retired after a 39-year career as a music educator, band director, percussion arranger, and music instructor. During a prolific 15-year stint running the Butler Senior High School Golden Tornado Marching Band in Butler, Pennsylvania between 1997 and 2012, Yaracs boosted the ensemble and program into the national spotlight, in large part due to his determination that he would take the entire 350-member band on a trip every year. Alternating between major excursions and more economical ones, the Golden Tornado Marching Band represented the town of Butler, the high school, and their community at such notable events as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (in 2000 and 2007), the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (in 1997 and 2002), and the Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix, Arizona (in 2004 and 2010), among others.

Yaracs cites the genesis of this ambitious travel schedule as his time performing with and then managing a drum corps. “That experience of getting out there, performing in different venues and meeting new people taught me a lot about life and growing up,” he says. “That was something that I always felt was a great incentive. I marched and graduated from the high school that I later taught at. When I was in the band in late ‘60s, we only had 90 members in the band and all we did was go to football games and one or two local parades. I had always hoped that someday I would become a band director and thought that if I did, I would do something for those kids.”

Drawing upon his vast and varied experiences on the road, Andrew Yaracs recently published Travel 101: A Band Director’s Guide for Planning Student Travel, a book chock full of anecdotes, sample forms and checklists, and advice and best practices. In this conversation with SBO, Yaracs speaks about his philosophy regarding band travel, fundraising, and some tips and tricks for having a successful and rewarding experience.

Maximizing the Educational Travel Experience for Your Performing Ensemble

Traveling abroad is a highly educational experience, especially when it comes to influencing young people. It is imperative for younger generations to explore the world and to learn about different cultures so that they may grow up showing compassion for others.

Many school music groups today are traveling to common destinations in Europe, such as London, Paris, and Vienna, which offer a long-standing musical heritage and can be very educational for students. However, there are many other destinations in South America, Africa, and Asia that are often overlooked, even though they can provide unique performance opportunities for the group, as well as a greater impact on the educational objectives for the tour. These locations offer unexpected surprises and can leave students with a new sense of cultural awareness and a truly unforgettable experience.

Travel experiences from school band and orchestra directors

Have you taken your school music groups on the road in the past year or two? How did it go? What did you and/or your students learn from the experience? What was the best part? The good, the bad, the funny, the life-affirming, and the death-defying, SBO wants to hear about it! Share your travel experience in 250 words or less for the chance to be included in an exciting new feature that will be debuting in an upcoming issue of SBO magazine.

2011 Director’s Resource Guide

The 2011 CD Director’s Resource Guide provides instant access to the services and products choral directors need and use. The following organizations, companies, and institutions include award manufacturers, music camp organizations, music education software developers, tour and travel consultants, trade organizations, uniform designers and distributors, and much more. With listings conveniently arranged alphabetically by category, […]

Tom’s Tips

SBO+: I get asked to present quite a few conducting workshops, especially for busy music educators who may not have the time or money to attend the many summer symposia that are out there. From time to time, I will share some of the things I often include in those workshops. Your Equipment The baton […]

Tom’s Tips

Dynamic Review

While helping new groups gain confidence and gel, take the opportunity to explore the world of dynamics and emotional expression through their music. An easy example is to play the “band anthem”… Hot Cross Buns. Once a good sound has been established, begin to explore dynamics and emotions by having the band play the song […]

The Secret is in the Tongue

For performers of voice or wind instruments, so much of good sound production relies on proper placement, shape, and use of the tongue. In this and the last few issues, we have featured articles about producing a great sound on various woodwind instruments and each of them described a very different technique for using the […]

Listen Up!

Listening and hearing are two different things. Hearing is involuntary and listening is voluntary. The student “hears” the birds, rain, teachers talking or the tone of their instrument. However, they can choose to “listen” to those sounds through focused attention on the sonic details. Focused hearing is listening. Remind your students to not just hear, […]

Here’s One Time it’s OK for Your Jazz Band to be Square

When rehearsing your jazz ensemble, try setting them up in a box (square). This will allow them to hear each other better and be more aware of what the other sections are playing. Joseph Canzano Tampa, FL SBO+ is proud to partner with legendary composer Robert W. Smith and his composers to bring you monthly […]

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Commentary

Travel

A conversation with the author of Travel 101: A band director's guide for planning student travel

Maximizing the Educational Travel Experience for Your Performing Ensemble

Travel experiences from school band and orchestra directors

SINGING AND PLAYING Tips

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