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Want to Improve Manual Dexterity? It’s Magic!
Harvey Rachlin | March 13, 2023What do music and magic have in common? Both are entertaining and require skillful use of fingers, hands, wrists, and arms (okay, wind instrument musicians use their mouths, too, but we’ll dispense with balloon tricks in this article). It’s important for musicians to stay in shape as playing an instrument is a physical endeavor. Musicians […] Read More... -
Unconvincing Dynamics is a Sin
Richard Floyd | February 19, 2023SBO+: This topic applies to every genre of music so our string and choral colleagues should not overlook this great article. Let’s begin our discussion of this omnipresent sin with a simply stated reality. Dynamics are totally valueless. They are of no consequence and serve no purpose until the dynamics are perceived by the listener. […] Read More... -
I Want to Add Mariachi to My School’s Music Program. Where Do I Start?
Jaimie L. Abney-Giraldo | January 15, 2023SBO+: This is the first in a series of articles about how to start a mariachi program from scratch, especially for educators with no background in the genre. You’ve seen the research, you’ve read the anecdotes and success stories, and you’ve analyzed your school’s demographic trends and student interest. You even have the support of […] Read More... -
My Annual Letter to Santa
Bob Morrison | December 15, 2022Dear Santa, Where do I begin? First, THANK YOU for bringing me the big present I asked for two years ago… an end to the pandemic. You knew, as we did, that our beloved music and performing arts programs would not be able to truly flourish until the global pandemic evolved to where we live […] Read More... -
Good News/Bad News While Most Students Have Access to Music Education, Nearly Four Million Students Do Not
Bob Morrison | November 13, 2022Many of us in music education are aware of the research shows learning music results in educational, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits. Even the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) recognizes music and the arts as part of a well-rounded education for all students. Yet, despite progress made in recent years to keep music […] Read More... -
Empower by Sharing Power – Creating Student-Centered Rehearsals Through Guided Listening
Jason Missal | November 13, 2022Initial Thoughts In any rehearsal, one of our primary goals should be to try to create as many moments of beauty as possible. Beauty occurs when everyone is fully engaged and actively listening, working together to realize a collaborative musical vision. Though guided listening will really blossom when students have mastered their individual parts, it […] Read More... -
The Sin Of Generic Articulation
Richard Floyd | October 13, 2022SBO: This is the second in a multi-part series by the esteemed music educator Richard Floyd, based on his book, The Seven Deadly Sins of Music Making, (part 1 was in the June issue, if you missed it). While Floyd refers to bands, every “sin” is equally applicable to orchestras, so I urge our string […] Read More... -
Let Them Lead – Student Leadership Tips
Dr. Matthew Arau | October 13, 2022Fresh start, new beginnings, blank slate, unlimited possibilities. Embarking on a new school year always gives me butterflies of anticipation as I dream of what is possible and the potential for all students to learn, grow, reach, and thrive. This is the ideal time to set your intent, create a vision, and make short- and […] Read More... -
So, You’re Hiring a New Music Teacher!
Nathan Voges | July 8, 2022One of the challenges for any administrator is selecting new teachers. A successful music program has much in common with winning sports teams. Both need consistency from year to year with demonstrated progress. I wish to address a common situation where a music teacher with long tenure retires or moves to a different position and […] Read More... -
Now More Than Ever, Music Education Matters
Brian Wilson | July 8, 2022Dear Educators: The impact of the past two years on your profession is almost as indescribable as it is immeasurable. Reports of depression, isolation, and anxiety among students and adults have become commonplace as young people cope with the effects of two years of altered or absent activities. Now more than ever, young people need […] Read More... -
How to Setup an Affordable Keyboard Lab for Your School
Rich Formidoni | March 18, 2022Incorporating an electronic keyboard lab into your school’s music program can be a gratifying experience for everyone involved. Not only does it represent a significant extension of your existing program, but it also enables your students to improve their piano skills while having fun in a group setting. More advanced students can mentor others and […] Read More... -
Music for Anxiety Regulation: A New Role for Music Education in the Modern Classroom
Holly Carson | March 18, 2022Scrolling through social media, many have likely seen news organizations such as the Washington Post Journal (Nut, 2018) and the New York Times (Denizet-lewis, 2017) reporting on an increase of anxiety diagnoses in children and adolescents. Many of these news sources are trying to discover if this is a result of current society, or simply […] Read More...
