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  • Be a Superhero to Your Administrators

    Rick Ghinelli | September 5, 2022There appears to be a nation-wide issue with administrators just not “getting” what we do in music. This is not to say all administrators fall into this category because there are some who are extremely supportive of their music programs. So, what makes the difference? This communication gap can be attributed to several factors, but […] Read More...
  • Inclusive Student Leadership – Making it a Reality

    Dr. Matthew Arau | August 2, 2022In the July 2022 issue of SBO Magazine, I introduced the case for the advantage of making student leadership inclusive so that students can literally lead from any chair. When leadership is viewed as inspiring and encouraging others to achieve their full potential, and the first person we lead is ourselves, one does not need […] Read More...
  • Inclusive Student Leadership Lead from Any Chair

    Dr. Matthew Arau | July 8, 2022SBO: When considering who to ask to write about student leadership, Matthew Arau was at the top of my list. When I received his excellent article on the topic. I immediately felt it was worth two installments in SBO. Nearly all of us were raised in a director-centric environment. Think of your university band or […] Read More...
  • All National Music and the Triumphant Robert W. Smith Music Festival

    Mike Lawson | July 8, 2022In our July 2021 issue, we profiled Doug Brasell, founder of All National Music, and the Robert W. Smith Music Festival, first announced at Midwest Band Clinic in December 2019. The story detailed how they survived the COVID-19 closures by producing successful online programming with great results, and their plans to hold their first COVID-delayed […] Read More...
  • A Culture of Excellence and Caring in the Southwest Dekalb High School Band

    James Seda | May 2, 2022For well over 60 years, music and band have been vital parts of the student experience at Southwest Dekalb High School (SWD). SWD is in Decatur, Georgia, an eastern suburb of Atlanta. The SWD band program consists of marching band, three concert bands, jazz band, percussion ensemble, various instrumental chamber ensembles, dance auxiliary team, color […] Read More...
  • How to Take Your Marching Band to the Next Level? It’s in the Roots!

    Stephen A. Salem | May 2, 2022Finally, the time has come to take a deep breath and moment for ourselves. Our bands have worked hard to perform well at Festival and a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We take a moment to look outside and realize temperatures are rising and the sun is out once again. Just when […] Read More...
  • Music Education’s Greatest Threat

    Robert B. Morrison | April 2, 2022The best way to predict the future is to invent it. To invent the future, we need to understand what the threats are. The greatest threat to music and all of arts education is not testing, uninformed administrators, or budget cuts. Although they all remain threats of concern.  The greatest threat to music and arts […] Read More...
  • Ryan Van Bibber – TI:ME’s 2022 Mike Kovins Teacher of the Year

    Mike Lawson | March 18, 2022Music educator, former band director, and former “band kid” Ryan Van Bibber teaches music technology at the Fort Hayes Career Center in Columbus City Schools in Columbus, Ohio, and also audio production at Columbus State Community College. In February of this year, Van Bibber was named the 2022 “TI:ME Mike Kovins Teacher of the Year” […] Read More...
  • Sweetwater Moves into B&O

    Mike Lawson | November 12, 2021The cost for entry into band is a daunting challenge for many students, and it sends those with parents willing to support their interest off in myriad directions to get them into band, even when the financial implications present a hardship. Back in 1980, my beginner band experience started with a recruitment night at the Jr. […] Read More...
  • UpClose: Bob Morrison in Conversation with Dr. James Weaver and Dr. Mark Spede – Where Do We Go From Here?

    Robert B. Morrison | October 9, 2021Dr. James Weaver (National Federation of State High School Associations) and Dr. Mark Spede (College Band Directors National Association) sat down for a conversation with Bob Morrison (Quadrant Research/Arts Ed NJ) regarding the latest information from the International Coalition of Performing Arts Aerosol Study and the implications for the new school year and how you […] Read More...
  • The Role of the Youth Symphony Orchestra

    Marty Steiner | September 6, 2021Student string and symphony orchestras frequently play second fiddle to marching and concert bands in the school music education universe. In many communities this shortcoming was addressed over the years by independent youth orchestras formed by dedicated and largely unrecognized music education heroes. Miami’s Bayfront Park Bandshell already had fame and history by the late […] Read More...
  • UpClose: Doug Brasell on All National Music’s Robert W. Smith Music Festival

    Mike Lawson | July 10, 2021All National Music, in conjunction with the RWS Music Company, held the “PreFormance” National Clinics Virtual Preparation Festivals and National Music Festival March 2 – April 24, 2021, featuring high school and middle school bands, choirs, orchestras, jazz bands, and flex ensembles from around the US and Northern Mariana Pacific Islands – all from their […] Read More...
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