One of the hallmarks of successful music educators is their desire to continually seek out ways to "build a better mousetrap." For example, they look for new rehearsal and conducting techniques, innovative ideas to reach others through… Read More...
Does your child resist practice? Before we dismiss them as lazy or unmusical, perhaps there are some legitimate reasons we can blame the instrument? Some students may simply be incompatible with the instrument chosen. Many abandoned… Read More...
Breathe as often as you need to for a great tone. Try to stay full of air. Breathe often enough and deep enough so that you feel full of air all the time. Make sure to breathe through your mouth to get a deep breath. Read More...
Define Excellence – What Is Great?
Norlan Bewley
When learning to play a musical instrument, it is important to define excellence – what is great? How do you know what better is? It is easier to progress when you are able to measure… Read More...
A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, John Whyte has been a band director at the elementary and secondary levels of the Kenosha Unified School District since 1980 and is active as a private trumpet teacher, clinician and soloist. Read More...
So much of what we learn as students is from our teachers tell us… things that often are never written down, such as cleaning the trumpet, structuring your practice, or choosing a mouthpiece. We may learn these things along the way, but… Read More...
Early in my career as a band director, I learned a valuable lesson in the art of disguising intonation in my concert band. While teaching at a small school in the panhandle of Florida, I invited a veteran clinician to work for my concert… Read More...
Check with principal/department head - What is your teaching schedule? | Who sets the teaching schedule for the building? | Who schedules music calendar? | Who schedules facility use? Read More...
Tone and intonation are two aspects of instrumental playing that are most often left to develop on their own. This "approach" comes from the misconceived notion that as long as one continues to play the notes (the more and faster the… Read More...
