My earliest recollections of wanting to conduct go back to my teenage years. Listening to the radio or to records, I found the idea of compelling musicians to "play it my way" rather exciting and would follow along with a pencil as my…
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It is only possible to play in tune with a good, centered sound. Loud playing tends to go flat, or is at least perceived as flat. Soft playing tends to go sharp, or is at least perceived as sharp. Playing at a distance makes the pitch…
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Along with both the lead trumpet and alto saxophone, the lead trombone player shares in the responsibility of establishing style, articulation, and phrasing. The lead player must have the ability to listen closely to the other lead players…
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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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