Band conductors need to constantly look for music that is artistically interesting and of educational value. I have written about this in some detail in the past and would urge readers to consult previous issues of Tempo if interested.
Read More...

When practicing, it is important to be warmed up. When you are warm, just like any athlete, your muscles and reflexes are ready to go, you are loose and agile, under control, ready for anything that any piece of music or any band…
Read More...

Playing in tune is a skill. It must be taught, developed, and polished as our students mature as musicians. Too often, particularly in young bands, good pitch is either left to chance or is so director and tuner centric that students are…
Read More...

Burnout is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Like fire, motivation gets stronger and burns hotter, or diminishes and burns out. There is no constant state. On any particular day, enthusiasm for work is increasing or decreasing, but it does…
Read More...

In between curriculum development, running after-school groups, department management, and individual student considerations, music teachers and department leads are increasingly needed to fill in the blanks where funds are missing from…
Read More...

The company started in 1910. My great-grandfather, Herman Fruhauf, immigrated to the US before the turn of the 20th century. He settled in NYC. A department store in Wichita, Kansas needed a tailor and they hired Herman to move to Wichita…
Read More...

What ever became of the clarinet choir? Sadly the popularity it experienced during the 1950s under the guidance of such greats as Don McCathren and Lucien Calliet faded as following decades saw school music programs contract, composers lose…
Read More...

There is no substitute for being prepared. For the band or orchestra director, one of the first steps in getting ready for the new school year is choosing the repertoire, which provides a firm foundation for the next nine months. But…
Read More...

Ever get confused about purchasing jazz band music for your music program that best meets the needs of your ensembles? Although there are six levels of difficulty level to consider first, knowing the range requirements for each brass…
Read More...

Books Specifically for Student Musicians - Sher Music
Read More...