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It is hard to believe May is here and the school year is rapidly coming to a close. As I was brainstorming for a topic that would serve band directors well at this point in the year, a Mozart Horn Concerto was playing on my car radio. It…
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Have you ever wondered how some school music programs always seem to produce top-notch ensembles year after year? In every state, there are always those "powerhouse" programs that just seem to consistently rise above the rest. But why? How…
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Regardless if you are a seasoned director or a first-year teacher, your program relies on you being able to purchase the equipment you need. To be able to do this, you must master the art of the school purchase order, or P.O. as it is…
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But that’s not so for germs, mold, and grunge. "Playing a used instrument can pose a potentially dangerous health risk. A total of 117 different sites, including the mouthpieces, internal chambers, and cases, were tested on 13 previously…
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Use a big beautiful sound. Find a favorite simple melody, tune or scale and breathe a warm singing tone into your instrument. For flutists, playing a series of long, resonant, centered middle B naturals if always good. Feel the openness in…
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At a time of year when so many student competitions are taking place, I thought it would be helpful and perhaps even inspiring to review some basic practice and performance ideas. It is my hope that music directors share these tips with…
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I have judged at a number of Solo and Ensemble contests, and continue to be amazed by the number of misconceptions students and directors have about these events, ranging from who should enter to what they should play and how they should…
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“Organizations can generate a return up to 50 percent through citrus fundraising,” said Vanessa Hodak, fundraising program manager for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). “Citrus shippers can deliver packaged boxes of Navel oranges and…
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Imagine walking into a new job as a director and finding all the instruments you need in inventory and in good working condition. Many directors would need to imagine that because, in most cases, it just doesn’t happen. Band programs grow…
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The first step is the reduction of the log into "billets". For the most expensive woodwinds, these billets are obtained by splitting the log by hand so that each billet follows the natural grain of the wood. These are then sawed into the…
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