Composed on Christmas Day, 1896 by John Philip Sousa, The Stars and Stripes Forever quickly became one of the most famous marches both in the United States and abroad.
The Assessment Road Trip: Creating an Assessment Plan for your Ensemble
Assessment in the ensemble room can be a daunting task. The process can lead to a lot of moans and groans (from students and teachers).
10 Easy Ear-Training Exercises for Choir
As a former high school choir director, I recognize both the challenges and rewards of teaching aural skills within the context of large group rehearsals.
No Questions, Please: Managing Expectations Before Rehearsal
Every instant of rehearsal time is a precious commodity. You don’t need me to tell you this. However, if you regularly find yourself starting rehearsal holding a French horn that needs oiling, a $13 check, and a permission slip, then this article is for you.
Mix It Up: Take Fresh Look at Those Same Measures
Sometimes you reach a place in your ensemble rehearsal where woodshedding a few difficult measures is no longer fun – or effective.
Quick Rehearsal Tip: Creative Warmups for Jazz Ensembles
The jazz ensemble warmup is a great opportunity to teach some scales that are useful in jazz improvisation. Common modes like mixolydian or dorian will help get the players moving around their horns and will also give them some basic improvisational tools.
Quick Rehearsal Tip: Learning Tricky Rhythms
When planning to teach a new selection that includes a tricky rhythm, I suggest teaching the rhythm separately before sight reading the piece.
Silence Is Golden: Especially When You’re On the Podium
Let’s say you’re getting close to your performance date and your students are reasonably prepared. Want to try something different that could introduce new levels of understanding?
Prepare Your Ensemble by Creating Musical Context
It’s no secret that detailed lesson planning is a great way to produce immediate results. However, this planning can take student learning to the next level when combined with long-term goals.
Passing the Baton: Empowering Singers in the Choral Rehearsal
I began my education career as a teacher-centered conductor with a passion for music. I believed my “reign” in the classroom was about dictating process and procedures from the podium, which often resulted in spoon feeding every pitch and rhythm on the page.