The morning was calm. Too calm. After taking one last drink of coffee, I picked up my scores, baton, and tuner and began walking towards the podium. In just seconds part of my middle school band would descend upon our rehearsal room eager to learn and play music (or maybe it was just the sugar from the snack line at […]
Today marked the second day without a student teacher for the first time since Mid-January. Over the past eight weeks, I had the pleasure of working with Nick Samson (from YSU), and in a couple of weeks Krista Schmidt (from GCC) will join me. I enjoy the opportunity to have student teachers come in to the program, and watch them […]
I need to keep evolving. That means staying current, and that means staying up with what these youngsters are listening to. So it requires some time on my part and sometimes painfully enduring the contrived chord progressions and hollow lyrics of any number of artists that students feel compelled to ask me to listen to. So I decided I would […]
The pieces have been saved from our band rooms, but there are plenty of you out there who didn’t realize MY BAND ROOM IS ON FIRE! There is still time to make a save, as the fire is still burning. Join in on the conversation and save a piece of music (just no more than seven). As you can tell […]
A recording of “English Carol Fantasy” is now posted on my profile on Myspace.com. It was written for an elementary band in their second year of instrumental instruction, thought it could be played by a middle school group and be a worthwhile musical experience. The ranges are not extreme for the players, and there are plenty of good musical moments […]
