Making JOY Your Tonal Center: The Six Keys to Fulfillment and Well-being in Teaching Music
Dr. Matthew Arau | September 1, 2024What 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 […] Read More...
Tune Up Your Teaching: The Hottest Summer PD Trends for Music Educators!
Elisa Janson Jones | August 8, 2024As 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. […] Read More...
Middle School Bands and Secondary Instruments
Robert E. Foster Jr. | August 8, 2024Fun! 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 […] Read More...
ColorGuard: Electrifying Purpose and Bold Pageantry for Everyone
Jeff Dodd | August 8, 2024When 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 […] Read More...
Teaching by Ear, Learning by Heart Creative Musical Arts at New England Conservatory – Part III
NEC | April 8, 2024SBO+: 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 […] Read More...
Patriotic Music Binds Us to the Idea of America
Harvey Rachlin | April 8, 2024SBO+: 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 […] Read More...
Getting to the Point! Comparative Articulation for Woodwinds – Part 2
Elise Naber Allen, Andrew J. Allen | March 30, 2024Before 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 […] Read More...
Teachers Need Self-Care, Too: Customized Routines to Combat School Stress
Adrian Gordon | March 30, 2024Self-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 […] Read More...
Inspiring the Next Generation of Music Educators
Bob Morrison | February 19, 2024It 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 […] Read More...
Getting to the Point! Comparative Articulation for Woodwinds – Part 1
Elise Naber Allen, Andrew J. Allen | February 19, 2024A 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 […] Read More...
Strategies for Improving the Sound of Your Wind Section
Don Nathan | February 19, 2024Achieving 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 […] Read More...
Red-Headed Stepchild: Beyond the Beatings – Going Beyond the Classroom
Dr. Jason Powell | January 8, 2024As music educators, we know better than anyone that our professions do not start or end in the classroom. We are the people who actively search through every moment in our personal lives for examples, stories, and easier modalities to teach and explain random concepts to our students. We actively search for translatable inspiration throughout […] Read More...
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