It is a strange and trying time for all of us in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We certainly understand times are tough for you, as it is for us. We have been proud to bring School Band & Orchestra for free for more than two decades and we will continue to provide you with free subscriptions during the pandemic. However, we would like your consideration in these difficult times to help support our efforts here at School Band & Orchestra to keep our information flowing and to provide you with a continuous stream of current and vital information when you need it the most.
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Latest News
Get Back to Where You Once Belonged
Everybody wants to get back to normal. We are all tired of being cooped up in our homes, dealing with working from home, never leaving, or just going out maybe to go to the store. We’re getting so close to the end of this. Or are we? It’s hard to know. The vaccines are becoming […]
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2021 Best Tools for Schools Awards
Each year, SBO Magazine presents awards for the best new music education products at the NAMM show in Anaheim. This past year was a unique experience for us all, to say the least, and for the first time ever, the NAMM show was held online. But that didn’t prevent our intrepid team from finding the […]
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Lewis Prizes Make a Difference Across the Country
If a single word could describe the four groups winning this year’s Lewis Accelerator Prize and the other Lewis prize winners, that word would be diversity! Diversity not only in the communities and specific populations served but also in the services provided and the delivery methods employed. Learning about some of these groups may inspire similar […]
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RealTime Audio Box Pro Tested, and It Works!
The Future of Remote Ensemble Performance is Here! Everyone wants to get back to the classroom to play together. Unfortunately, we are not quite there yet, but hopefully heading that direction with vaccines coming out. However, distance learning tech is now part of our everyday arsenal of tools, isn’t going anywhere, and more than ever […]
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Hypermobility in Middle School Band Students
Another Indicator for Future Success One of the most important days for a middle school band director is the day incoming fifth graders are assigned their instrument. This is the day that the recruiting process comes to fruition and next year’s numbers start to come together. Most often taking place in the band hall, cafeteria […]
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Why Having a Trusted Travel Partner is More Important Than Ever
It’s no secret that schools have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Between meeting virtually, administrations locking down on travel plans, program funds being cut, and the added hurtles of groups attempting to practice or perform together in-person, music educators have their hands full! Yet, the heartbreak of missing out on senior trips, festivals, […]
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Compression – What It Is and How to Use It
One of the audio operations that many find initially confusing is compression. While you might be aware of what it is in a general sense, you might not be aware of just how widely it’s used and why. In real life, music has a wide dynamic range that sometimes varies from an almost silent whisper […]
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Advanced Technique for Strings – Push Your Group to the Limits
The last few months I have been discussing method books for your level 2 to 3.5 groups to push their techniques and their musicality. The books I choose to review are widely available in school libraries, but there may be newer versions available with new resources. This month I am focusing in on a book […]
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Inspired Together: How My Students & I Built a Record Label to Showcase Their Work
“Are we going to do a concert?!” Music teachers everywhere have been asked this question at some point this school year, and for each of them, it’s been a complicated one to answer. At the same time, the rightful attention to issues of diversity, inclusion, equity, and access in arts education classrooms challenges us to […]
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Tips for Livestreaming Your Next Performance
My kids have been doing band in-person since getting back to school from the holiday break. They use masks and bell covers and are being as clean as possible for teenagers and our district as proven that Covid isn’t spreading through our schools so it’s happening. That being said, they’re limiting attendance at the upcoming […]
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Wenger Corp. Shares “75 Years Told In 75 Seconds” Video
In 2021, the Wenger Corporation celebrates its 75th Anniversary! Here’s a video from Wenger that recaps 75 years in 75 seconds. There will be a lot more celebration from Wenger Corporation over the year as it highlights its people, projects, and products. We at Stage Directions send our sincere congratulations on the occasion of Wenger’s […]
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NAMM Announces that Some “Believe in Music Week” Online Content is Still Available; In-Person Summer NAMM Set for July 15-17
NAMM announced that while its Believe in Music Week online portal has officially closed as of Feb. 28, some of the educational and entertainment content lives on, and those interested in accessing on-demand articles and videos can do so by going to namm.org. NAMM is welcoming attendees in person at its next major event, Summer […]
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New Philharmonic Presents Pianist Wael Farouk in Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos No. 1, 2 and 3
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. – Internationally acclaimed pianist, Wael Farouk joins New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), for “Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos.” This unprecedented concert program, conducted by Maestro Kirk Muspratt and recorded at the MAC’s Belushi Performance Hall stage, will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, then […]
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Michael Mayo, Theo Bleckmann, and Human Rights Campaign to Join DC Jazz Festival’s “OutLoud!” Event on March 11
WASHINGTON D.C. – DC Jazz Festival and the Embassies of Finland and Sweden in Washington, D.C. are hosting a panel on LGBTQI+ experiences in the music industry. We are excited to announce the addition of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) as a collaborative partner, and international singer and Mack Avenue recording artist, Michael Mayo, and […]
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In Memoriam: Laurie Austin
The RPMDA shared the following sad news recently about the passing of RPMDA past president Laurie Austin at her home in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 22. She also served on the RPMDA board for many years.
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Ten U.S. Schools Named ‘Yamaha Institutions of Excellence’
Yamaha has named 10 distinguished colleges and universities to its inaugural Yamaha Institution of Excellence program, recognizing extraordinary commitment to innovation in the study of music.
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NAMM Foundation and Industry Leaders Announce Bernice Ash Memorial Award
Industry leaders Fred and Dinah Gretsch, Jerry Ash, and members of the Ash Family and The NAMM Foundation are announcing the creation of the Bernice Ash Memorial Award.
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Applications To Perform or Present at JEN’s 13th Annual Conference Now Open
The Jazz Education Network (JEN) invites those who are interested in performing or presenting at the group’s 13th annual conference to apply. The conference is set for Jan. 5-8, 2022. Applications are being accepted in the following categories: PERFORMANCES School Community Professional CLINIC PRESENTATIONS Classroom Teaching / Education Composition / Arranging Technology Improvisation Instrument Technique […]
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NEC presents “Grow Your Art” Music and Business Residency and Performance with Maria Schneider
Multi-Grammy Award-winning composer and bandleader Maria Schneider will work with NEC students through Grow Your Art, a collaborative music and business residency and performance series set for March 2, 3 & 4. Maria Schneider and the NEC Jazz Orchestra will also perform on March 10.
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The Atlanta Music Project Presents Music of the African Diaspora Festival
The Atlanta Music Project’s virtual Music of the African Diaspora Festival takes place Feb. 25-28 on Facebook Live. The series of concerts kicks off Feb. 25 with The Next Generation: A Recital by the Young Musicians of the AMP Academy. Next up is Studio Sessions: An Evening with the Faculty of the Atlanta Music Project on Feb. 26. Then on Feb. 28, Songs of Solidarity: Chamber Music Ensembles of the Atlanta Music Project. All concerts start 7pm EST.
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Realtime Music Solutions May Have Your Distance Rehearsal Solution Today
For over two decades, New York City-based Realtime Music Solutions (RMS) has been delivering solutions for rehearsing music to the musical theater market. Through software products, RMS has helped countless national, regional, and local theater productions, in addition to serving the school musical production community. And like everyone, when COVID-19 hit, their business was hit hard. No productions means no rehearsals.
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JamKazam Just May Save Ensembles in a Virtual Teaching World
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JamKazam founder David Wilson was a band kid growing up. He started on trumpet then switched to euphonium. He raised band kids. His eldest son played sax and his daughter plays trumpet in the marching band at Baylor. JamKazam is an online real-time group performance platform for Windows and Mac OS computers. It allows musicians to hear and perform with each other with extremely low latency, and even stream the sum of that performance out via video to YouTube and Facebook Live.
Dorico 3.5: Innovation in Notation
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Steinberg’s music notation program, Dorico, has a fascinating history. From the outset, there were rumors and conjectures about what to expect from this new product, followed by an initial release that was clearly incomplete, leaving many to wonder if and when we would see a fully functional program.
Reference 4: Room EQ Made Simple
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If you follow any of the online groups on music production, you know a day doesn’t go by when someone doesn’t ask about what gear they should buy for their studios. The responses predictably include everyone’s favorite mics, plug-ins, and speakers.
Steinberg’s Dorico 3
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The latest version of Dorico, Steinberg’s professional engraving program, has been released, and it includes an impressive list of new features and improvements.
Soundtrap: Musicmaking and Podcasting for the Classroom
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Those of you who are old enough might remember Moore’s Law, the idea that computing power would double every 1-2 years.
Eventide H9 Max: Big Effects in a Small Package
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Eventide has a long history of innovation and quality. In the mid-70s, they were the first to bring a digital effects device to market with the H910 Harmonizer. By the 1980s, the H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer added intelligent scalar harmonization and became standard equipment in top studios around the world.
Steinberg Does Jazz
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Jazz has always been something of an afterthought in music technology. Other than programs like Band in a Box, support for jazz notation and performance practices has been somewhat limited and often required jazz composers to resort to convoluted workarounds.
Mastering Organization in Rehearsal Using iPads
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Chances are likely that you have heard of a few iPad apps for use in the classroom. Like me, you may have heard about so many of them that you can’t even remember them all — or you have made it so far as to download them and now hundreds of little icons have been left untouched in a folder called “Music,” sitting on your home screen.
ASSR Session Files: An SBO Best Tools for Schools 2018 Award Winner
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Wandering around the NAMM show is an experience in cacophony. Between product demos, artist presentations, and the thousands of attendees trying out the latest gear, it’s hard to hear yourself think.
New Sizes of Yamaha’s YVN Model 3 Violin
The YVN Model 3 Violin family is comprised of the YVN Model 3 and the YVN Model 3 three-quarter and one-half size violins. Each provide students of all statures with a durable, well-crafted starter instrument for an exceptional playing experience. Among the innovations used to create the YVN Model 3 family is the proprietary graduated […]
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Buffet Crampon Student Alto and Tenor Saxophones
Using many of the same design elements as the Buffet Crampon 400 Series professional saxophones, the 100 Series student saxophones give young band students a high-quality instrument that plays well right away, a crucial first step for beginning saxophonists. These 100 Series saxophones feature a gold lacquer finish, leather pads with metal resonators, a high […]
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Zildjian’s Limited Edition Vintage A’s
In celebration of what would have been Armand Zildjian’s 100th birthday, the Avedis Zildjian Company will be releasing vintage cymbals from the Zildjian family vault. This first ever family vault release features 200 hand selected genuine vintage 20” A cymbals from Armand Zildjian’s personal collection. Included with each cymbal is a pair of limited-edition Armand […]
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Phil Jones Bass PE-5 Pedal
The Phil Jones Bass PE-5 pedal is designed for bass guitar and upright bass. It incorporates a sophisticated 5 band EQ and also offers superior function as a Pre-Amp, Direct Box, and signal booster. The PE-5 is engineered with a unique switchable input impedance, which allows the pedal to match exactly to either a magnetic […]
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Analog Effects Collection from PreSonus
PreSonus has released five retro-inspired effects with the Analog Effects Collection. The collection includes Analog Delay, Analog Chorus, Red Light Distortion, Rotor, and Tricomp. Each effects plug-in in the collection represents the apex of PreSonus craftsmanship, from State-Space Modeled drive stages with inspiring sonic textures to their classic, vintage-inspired user interfaces. Formerly only available in […]
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Whirlwind Custom Power Link Distros
Whirlwind can configure power distribution racks or motor controllers to suit user needs. You can create this using free DesignPRO 2.0 Software, or Whirlwind can lay out the system to your specs. Shown here is a custom Power Link PLR power distro with an integrated PLMC eight-channel motor controller and integrated remote/jumper storage. Remote control […]
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Gator’s Professional Microphone Boom Arm
Gator’s new professional desktop broadcast/podcast microphone features an on-air indicator light, 360-degree rotation ability, and a replaceable XLR cable. The stand is fully adjustable and will clamp or directly mount to surfaces up to 2.17”/55mm in thickness. The spring-loaded articulating arm has a maximum weight capacity of 4.4 lbs./2 kg and can extend up to […]
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‘Triads for the Improvising Guitarist’ from Berklee Press
Triads for the Improvising Guitarist by Jane Miller explains how triads are the key to understanding harmony, soloing, and comping. By understanding how triads relate to larger chord structures, players can improve their command over harmony and be able to use triads more effectively in their playing. Through visualizing and using common triads on the […]
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‘Jazz Duets: Etudes for Phrasing and Articulation’ from Berklee Press
Jazz Duets: Etudes for Phrasing and Articulation by Richard Lowell provides 27 duets in jazz and jazz-influenced styles such as swing, bebop, funk, samba, and others. They are appropriate for performance by any melodic instruments. The duets feature independent contrapuntal lines, and practicing them will give players intimate insight into how these constructs sound and […]
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Murphy Music Press Releases Beginning Band Adaptable Series
Murphy Music Press’ Beginning Band Adaptable Series is now available. The first two volumes feature a collection of eight new Grade 0.5 compositions for flexible instrumentation.
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