Opera and ballet are both excellent (if not obvious) places to start when it comes to understanding relationships between music and the other arts because these complex art forms incorporate elements of dance, theater, and even visual art…
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The first step in learning to effectively evaluate performances and compositions is to develop a set of criteria with which to determine the quality of music that students either listen to or perform. Students can easily come up with a…
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Listening sessions can be set up in a number of different ways. Some directors may want to devote the last five minutes of class to listening two or three times a week, while others may want to devote an entire class period to the activity…
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The Fifth Standard, reading and notating music, is a crucial skill yet one that is fundamental to instrumentalists. Because of the way instrumental music classes are designed, the focus on reading music notation is more intensive in bands…
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Standard Four, composing and arranging music within specified guidelines, was designed to make teaching composition to primary- and secondary-school students easy. However, this nearly foolproof approach can still be difficult to implement…
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The Third Standard, “Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments”, is often overlooked in a concert band setting. The reasons for this are as wide and as varied as the technique itself.
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Having said that, however, it's wise to investigate several mouthpieces before making a selection. Don't let your students make the mistake of choosing one simply because their favorite player uses it. No two players have the same lip or…
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If you've ever gone to a music store or done a Google search to purchase "the brass instrument that's right for you" you've probably realized that there are instruments available in all shapes, sizes, colors, bore sizes, bell sizes, tapers…
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John Swallow is widely regarded as one of the most important trombonists and teachers in the United States. He began his career after World War II with the Utah Symphony under Maurice Abravanel. Since that time he has developed a n!puluiion…
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