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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.
It is with the utmost sincerity we ask you to consider supporting our efforts here with a small donation which will allow our staff the ability to keep these interesting stories about your chosen career coming to you in a consistent and timely basis. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. We at School Band & Orchestra wish nothing but the best for you, your school, your family and co-workers. We hope you continue to remain healthy during this most strenuous of times.
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Who Says You Can’t Attend a Festival This School Year?
Mike Lawson | April 6, 2021In 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. Read More... -
Taiko Drumming: A Cultural Japanese Art Form
Kevin Lucas | April 6, 2021For the April 2021 issue of SBO, Kevin Lucas interviewed the leader of Madison Japanese Taiko Drumming Group BENI Daiko, Junko Yamauchi. She describes Taiko as "musical expression that combines mental discipline and physical demand...Our goal is to teach and give experience of traditional Japanese culture for everyone, plus having fun!" Read More... -
Who Me? Teach Guitar?
Lesley Schultz | April 6, 2021Orchestra and secondary general music teacher Lesley Schultz has everything you need to know about making this non-traditional stringed instrument part of your new tradition when you’re the string teacher. Read More... -
Get Your Head in the Cloud!
George Hess | April 6, 2021Dr. George Hess details the amazing array of super-affordable (even free!) cloud-based software apps you may be missing out on in your music program. Read More... -
2021 Best Tools for Schools Awards
George Hess | March 6, 2021Each year, SBO Magazine presents awards for the best new music education products at the NAMM show in Anaheim. This year the NAMM show was held online, but that didn't prevent our intrepid team, including Dr. George Hess, Priscilla Shaw, Courtney Powers, and Steve Giddings, from finding the best tools for you. Read More... -
Lewis Prizes Make a Difference Across the Country
Marty Steiner | March 6, 2021SBO's March 2021 issue profiles the four talented groups that won this year’s Lewis Accelerator Prizes. Each has been awarded a multi-year grant of $500,000. And if a single word could describe a common element that unites them, it would be "diversity." Read More... -
Tradition on the Move, HBCU Bands Tell the Story
Marty Steiner | February 6, 2021SBO traces the magnificent history of four of the prestigious Battle of the Bands “Final Eight" - Grambling State University, Hampton University, Benedict College and Howard University. Read More... -
National Museum of African American Music Opens in Nashville
Mike Lawson | February 6, 2021In a stunning newly-constructed building with over 1,500 exhibits and multiple educational and performance opportunities, this world-class museum is going to be a must-see for students of all genres to learn about the rich history of contributions to American music by Black people. Read More... -
The 2021 SBO Directors’ Resource Guide
SBO Staff | February 5, 2021SBO is pleased to present the 2021 Directors’ Resource Guide. This collection of companies and organizations is here to serve your band and orchestra programs with a variety of products and services you’ll use everyday. From instruments to sheet music, from travel to festivals, and much more, you’ll find this directory is something you’ll want to keep on hand all year long and refer to time and time again. Read More... -
2020 Survey Report on COVID-19’s Impact
Mike Lawson | January 8, 2021In December, we surveyed previous recipients of the “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” honor from the past three years on their experience teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. We decided it would be a good idea to also survey the readers of the magazine for their own thoughts from the 2020-2021 school year under COVID-19. The results are not that different; in fact, they mirror what our esteemed designation recipients reported, by and large.
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The Lewis Prize for Music: A Revolutionary Grant
Mike Lawson | January 8, 2021
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The mission of the Lewis Prize for Music is to partner with leaders and their groups who create positive change by investing in young people through music. -
Hal Leonard, Over 70 Years Later: A print publisher’s perspective on moving online
Mike Lawson | January 8, 2021
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Music educators will probably always remember the exact day and time in March of 2020 when they were told they had to move their entire program online. From there, the rest of 2020 was a whirlwind of trying to teach through video, engage students, learn new technologies, create new curriculums, and constantly try and figure out when and how to mute and unmute microphones. We all had to pivot, adapt, adjust, take a deep breath, and keep pushing forward for our students.
