I am pleased to announce that my new work for young band “Dancing Under the Stars” will be released this summer by Bandworks Publications. This works is intended for a Junior High or Middle School Concert Band. I have always admired people with the courage to “dance like no one is watching”, and this piece is somewhat analogous to that idea both musically and metaphorically. I...

I am pleased to announce that three new works are now up and available from C.L. Barnhouse. If you visit the site you can check out a score image while listening to the recording by the Washington Winds. The pieces are listed below with approximate grade level in parentheses. Please let me know your thoughts on this music, and I hope one of them can be of use to your ensembles. As always, thank you for your...

The recent Holiday concert which the students at Mercer presented was really well done, and as their teacher I am especially proud of their efforts over the past two months. There were some very traditional settings like “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Winter Wonderland” (both older arrangements by Jerry Nowak), mixed in with some newer and interesting settings of familiar Christmas carols like “Hey...

Within today’s middle school band programs around the country, there are many directors that must develop their student’s technical performance skills within the ensemble setting.  Although not an ideal situation, it is the only viable option for keeping students involved in a band program.  Add into the mix a tight music budget, and the option to purchase ensemble method books to address some of this...

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 lunch).  But I never made it to the podium.  Suddenly a completely refurbished alto...