Band directors share their best tips for teaching oboe & bassoon. (Collaborative post from band directors around the country.)
Thirds patterns are an excellent way to bridge the gap between playing scales and sightreading within a specific key. Here’s a way to change up the monotony of playing straight through a page of thirds. To keep it easy, teach these patterns by rote – just tell the kids to double the note. (see below) Play ... Read More about Improving Sightreading Skills with Thirds
Engaging the ensemble is critical to teaching band, but how do we really know if our students are engaged? Is it a test score? A perfect performance? A silent rehearsal? Learn some great tips for student motivation in this article for directors.
Learn about habits of a successful middle school band director. Great tips for building your band program and creating band recruiting strategies!
Find some great tips on for muting for the horn in this well written article. You will learn helpful info such as stopped horn technique, closing the bell with the hand, using a stopped mute and more!
Teaching beginning band can be a challenge! Directors, learn how to use student assistants in beginner band classes. Give your leaders a job!
The three fundamental test of conducting has some effective and simple tips for improving your conducting. Click here to check it out!
Looking for an easy, fun way to teach the lines and spaces of the treble and bass clefs? Click here to check out this chant! Perfect for beginning band.
Band directors, click here to read this insightful and helpful article full of strategies to use for teaching in Title I schools (or any school)!
Small school band directors, this post is just for you! Click here to see highlihts from the presentation on "Building Success in the Small School Band."
Small band programs face unique challenges that require creative solutions. This short post discusses tips for covering parts in a small band.
8 ways to retain great private lesson teachers in your band program! This article contains information that will help your private lesson program succeed!
Great info on how playing duets can improve ensemble skills in your band students. Implement these band teaching ideas and have fun playing ensembles!
These full band ensemble tips can be put into practice today! Band directors will learn great tips for teaching beginner brass, woodwind and percussion.
The French horn is an awkward instrument for students that are still physically developing. As young hornists grow they will need regular attention. Making time for some routine maintenance to your hornist’s posture is valuable. Learn some great tips in this article!
If you've been teaching your clarinet students to "Roll to A," you're on the right track - BUT - that's not enough! Read this article to find out why.
The first year of beginning band is the most crucial. Make the most use out of your rehearsal time and learn how to start your students off right!
Band directors, click here for a list of 28 things we are thankful for. From incredible music making moments, students that come back to visit after graduating, parents who support music education and more. This article will remind you why we band directors have the BEST jobs in the world!
Need help teaching your flute players how to play in tune? This article will give you practical tips to improve tone quality, intonation and overall pitch.
Band directors, looking for a new game to challenge your band students and help review rhythms you've been learning? The rhythm envelope game is a great way to review rhythms in a totally different way. Click here to learn how to use it in your classroom!
Band directors - click here to read through this "crash course" (complete with photos) and learn how to teach the perfect cymbal crash from your podium.
Band directors, click here to check out this article with some great tips for teaching embouchure to yoru beginning band students!
Here at BandDirectorsTalkShop.com we KNOW what it's like to be a band director! This is where you can learn, share and be inspired!
Are you developing a jazz program? This article offers great tips for introducing jazz style and articulation to students with no experience. Click here!
Check out this '"Non-bassoonist's guide to equipment" article! If you're been stumped by what equipment you should get for your bassoonists, take a look.
Oral cavity and aperture- directors, check out this article for some tips on creating and maintaining open, resonant tone with your students!
A successful non-varsity band is an important part of building a strong band program. Help students develop ensemble and individual skills with these tips.
Anybody starting their first year of teaching band has likely heard some variation on these words: “Your first year of teaching is hard.” This article offers a couple of hints to help you walk in on your first days and be the best coworker you can be.
FREE, simple resource to assess students in band class! Only need 1 device per class to take advantage of Plickers.
Are you wanting to find and use grants for your band, but not sure where to start? Click here to read this helpful article on where to look and who to ask!
Band directors, click here for a list of 28 things we are thankful for. From incredible music making moments, students that come back to visit after graduating, parents who support music education and more. This article will remind you why we band directors have the BEST jobs in the world!
How to we keep students from quitting band? Check out this article for some practical tips and ideas on how to help your band retention.
The first 4 weeks of beginning band (or orchestra) are a pivotal for developing relationships, expectations, and laying ground work for success. Read more!
Band directors, this article is about how to host a "bring a parent to band" day. If you are looking for ways to get your students AND parents excited about what your school band program has to offer, you will love this idea!
Looking for new, easy games to help your band? "A 'Band Drop Out Contest' is a chance to have a spur of the moment contest that takes about 1 minute once the kids learn how to play it." Band directors, click here to learn how to implement this easy game with your ensembles, from beginning students to advanced!
Band directors, in this article you'll find several ideas to use with your students to get the most out of using chorales in rehearsal! Click here for 8 different ways to use chorales.
Engaging the ensemble is critical to teaching band, but how do we really know if our students are engaged? Is it a test score? A perfect performance? A silent rehearsal? Learn some great tips for student motivation in this article for directors.
Small school band directors, this post is just for you! Click here to see highlihts from the presentation on "Building Success in the Small School Band."
In this article, you can find helpful tips on how to teach tone, vibrato, & dynamics while using online platforms. Click here to read!
The first year of beginning band is the most crucial. Make the most use out of your rehearsal time and learn how to start your students off right!
We all know that we should be hearing our students play individually as frequently as possible. Learn how to use lanyards in band to accomplish this!
Want a creative and fun way to teach cut time? Play back through the beginning band method book in cut time. This is a great activity to do with beginners in April or May!
Explore, expand and energize the flute section with wonderful tips in this article by an expert flute teacher. Renew the excitement in your flute players!
I believe very strongly that humor plays an important part in the band rehearsal, especially with younger groups. It helps keep students engaged, and it can work as a wonderful “reset button” when tensions are starting to get high. The director has to play to the strengths of his/her personality, of course, but even bad ... Read More about 20 Analogies That I Have Used (With Love) in Band Rehearsals That You Have Not
Learn about habits of a successful middle school band director. Great tips for building your band program and creating band recruiting strategies!
Here are some of the things they don't teach (warn) you about when you major in music. You sure learn them hands on as a band director though!
Find some great tips on for muting for the horn in this well written article. You will learn helpful info such as stopped horn technique, closing the bell with the hand, using a stopped mute and more!
We can always turn to other directors around us for valuable tips and strategies. In this article, 5 organizational tips are discussed.
Young band directors and first year music teachers, this article is for you! Learn about the top 10 mistakes that young band directors make such as poor programming, lack of planning, not establishing relationships, rushing the fundamentals, marketing your music program, making excuses, fixing your ego and more!
