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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... -
Music Education in the Digital Age: Harnessing Technology for Student Engagement
Donna Maurer | January 8, 2024Since the pandemic, online education and the use of technology have increased. Many music educators have embraced technology to ensure they continue to adapt their techniques, curriculums, and lessons to follow the digital expansion. Music teachers can develop new strategies to engage students more effectively and innovatively. Integrating technology for your teaching provides advantages when […] Read More... -
It Takes a Village: The Role of Community in a Music Program
Adrian Gordon | January 8, 2024As you begin establishing yourself in your new position, be sure community building is at the top of your list of priorities. A cohesive social fabric between the students in the program will create a deeper sense of investment and accountability toward each other. This will also help create a strong layer of trust in […] Read More... -
Planting Seeds: Cultivating a Healthy Jazz Program
Natalie Wilson | January 8, 2024Adapted from “Five Steps for Growing a Healthy Crop” Hungry For Truth blog from the South Dakota Soybean Farmers, August 2023 Music educators and soybean farmers share common practices. Just as soybean farmers in South Dakota prepare for growing a healthy crop, so must our music educators prepare for cultivating a healthy jazz program. When […] Read More... -
Clarinet: Developing the Optimum Clarinet Tongue Position
Dr. Tracy Heavner | January 8, 2024A clarinetist’s tongue position is perhaps one of the most important components of successful playing since it has a direct effect on tone, intonation, response and the ability to articulate quickly. In addition, the ideal clarinet tone, which is dark, in tune, focused and strived for by all clarinetists, can only be achieved if the […] Read More... -
You Got the Job! Staff Sergeant Kate Walsh
Staff Sergeant Kate Walsh | January 8, 2024You got the job!” he shouted at me through the phone. The voice on the other end was a friend from long ago, currently technical support group leader at The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C. As I sat at Buffalo Wild Wings, warm tears of relief filled my eyes. I was […] Read More... -
Teaching by Ear, Learning by Heart Creative Musical Arts at New England Conservatory, Part 2
Mark Zaleski | January 8, 2024SBO+: This is part 2 in a series of articles by faculty members of the New England Conservatory who share their tips on teaching deeper listening. Mark Zaleski, woodwinds/bass/songwriting/arranging: Memory Bank Exercise A great way to get students of any age or experience level excited about developing their ears is to have them create their own music […] Read More... -
When We Teachers Walk Through the Door: New Teachers, Take Note
Nicole Lamartine | January 8, 2024As I was teaching a conducting lesson, we deconstructed the rehearsal segment the student had led in front of one of my choirs. Tamara said, “I just didn’t feel good, and I had too much going on in my head from all of my classes, and we had a performance that afternoon…and…and…and…” She stopped, looked […] Read More... -
Do Kids Need Stage Makeup?
Mary Gray | January 8, 2024If you’ve ever wondered if young actors really need to wear makeup on stage, the short answer is yes. The very bright lights on stage can give actors without makeup a very ghostly or sickly appearance. This is especially true for kids with light skin, but makeup can improve the look for any skin shade. […] Read More... -
Some Thoughts on Curriculum Planning for General Music
Dr. Rob Lyda | January 8, 2024Time is a precious commodity. In my experience, time seems to weigh even more heavily on general music educators! We generally see our students for a short amount of time. The variety of general music teaching schedules depends on staffing, student population, and overall school priorities. It’s terrifying to think our students often have more […] Read More... -
The Sin of Failure to Consider the Role of Proportion
Mike Lawson | January 8, 2024The renowned author Ken Follet proclaimed, “Proportion is the heart of all beauty.” If that assessment rings true there perhaps is no sin more daunting to address than the role of proportion in music making. The artistry of making music ultimately evolves into the creation of some kind of relationship intended to achieve both contrast […] Read More... -
Ukulele Day: Using the In-Class Performance to Empower Your Young Musicians
Nicole Guimaraes | January 8, 2024Every music educator would agree there is incredible value in allowing our students the opportunity to perform. The hard work that goes into preparing and the pride they feel following a fantastic performance cannot be recreated or found in any other subject. As a general music teacher, we face a unique challenge of creating performance […] Read More...
