So, you want to be a music major?

I am very appreciative of Nick Barthen and the Music Department Staff in the Moon Area School District for inviting me to present this past Thursday evening (11/14) on “So You Want to Be A Music Major”. I received five phone calls in the days before the event from people interested in hearing what I had to say, but could […]

Seven Signs of Successful Ensembles – Part 2

Thank you to those of you who reached out personally thanking me for Part I in this post – I was pleasantly surprised with comments, encouragement and (nice) demands for Part II. I take great unabashed joy to write about this part of the music ensemble. As I mentioned last week, there are core components here that are influenced by […]

Seven Signs of Successful Ensembles – Part I

Summer has afforded me the opportunity to think some thoughts without feeling overwhelmed. My thoughts on bands continue to be at the forefront of my mind. My vision for the future of music education in public and private schools includes a strong presence of the school band playing an integral part in building musicians, shaping attitudes towards the fine arts, […]

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day to friends and colleagues who are dads to their own children, and to their bands. I count myself blessed to have an earthly father, two grandfathers, a Heavenly Father, and several “band-dads” who have graciously mentored me on this path over the years. I am so thankful for my own father – a veteran, a farmer, a […]

Messiah Year 1: Lessons Remembered

I suppose that every now and then it is a good idea to have a first-time experience all over again. I didn’t really plan on having my first year teaching all over again in year number 23 of my career in music education, but it happened. There are still things that I don’t know that I don’t know, and it […]

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