Many bands run into the same problem at the start of band camp when it comes to the front ensemble: My best mallet players graduated last year, and the junior high "percussionists" are all headed for the drumline. I've got my principal…
Read More...

A band director friend of mine once mentioned that he considered buying heavy overcoats for his drumline each year because it seemed they always needed to warm-up. It's true that most drumlines could manage an entire rehearsal just…
Read More...

To begin, we need to consider what the musical purpose of the bass drum is in an ensemble. The bass drum is the lowest sound in the percussion section. Whether it is played repetitively, such as during a march, or is used to reinforce…
Read More...

Whether you are getting ready for marching band or the indoor season, the process of setting your high school line can be difficult. You need to make sure you assign the right players to each of the various instruments. Proper instrument…
Read More...

After teaching marching percussion at the high school, college, and top 12 D.C.I. levels as well as band directing at the junior high and college levels, there are a number of teaching philosophies that I have found to be extremely…
Read More...

Most of us have been to a middle school band concert where the band excelled but the soloists didn’t. If the band is playing well overall, a few brief solos should not leave the audience wincing.
Read More...

The word "musicianship" is used to describe a personal reaction to an experience of hearing music played or sung. Comments like "He plays with such feeling," "She has such great style," and "I could just hear the words when he played the…
Read More...

Does the thought of a beginning band concert conjure up aural images of colliding asteroids or a visit to the sound effects studio for Jurassic Park? Do you find yourself mourning the loss, the perceived besmirching, or possibly the…
Read More...

To presume that one seating arrangement is ideal for the presentation of every piece is like believing that all the art in an art gallery looks just as good under the same lighting. Like visual art, music consists of a variety of colors,…
Read More...