The Frantic Pace of a Band Director

Low Cost MusicTechnology Options For The Music Education Classroom

Low Cost MusicTechnology Options For The Music Education Classroom

Finding ways to stretch your budget in a music classroom is always important and even more so when trying to purchase high tech electronics, software, and other materials. This article provides an updated list of dozens of different low cost or free alternatives to expensive music education products. It includes such categories as music notation software, drill design software, special needs hardware, and many more.

The Star Spangled Banner- Free Sheet Music For Band Inst.

The Star Spangled Banner- Free Sheet Music For Band Inst.

This document contains sheet music for all common instruments to play The Star Spangled Banner, also known as the sheet music to the National Anthem of the United States of America. You can view the sheet music online or download the individual parts arranged for all common concert band instruments. If you do not see your instrument listed please scroll to the bottom of the page and try one of the the other instruments. Most musicians will be able to find at least one instrumental part that matches their range and preferred key signature. If you are seeking a simple piano version of the song please select from the voice, trumpet, or alto saxophone versions.

Using Plickers as an Assessment Tool in the Music Education Classroom

Using Plickers as an Assessment Tool in the Music Education Classroom

Music, band, choir, and orchestra classrooms can be huge and assessing the knowledge and retention of individual students in such a large class can be daunting. Plickers are one of several solutions that can be adapted to work in large groups, making the act of assessing a student’s understanding a little easier and a whole lot faster.

Is Marching Band A Sport? Pros, Cons, and a Reality Check

Is Marching Band A Sport? Pros, Cons, and a Reality Check

In recent years the question of whether or not marching band is a sport has been brought up time and time again for various reasons and by various groups. On one side you have the YES crowd who says that marching band is competitive, physically demanding, and every bit as much a team event as any traditional sporting event. On the other side of the coin are those who say no, that marching band is NOT a sport and it is a musical pursuit that happens to involve coordinated movements. Both sides are right, but to make a final decision we need to look deeper into the facts. Read on to find out what they are!

Portable Digital Audio Recorder Buying Guide With Reviews

Portable Digital Audio Recorder Buying Guide With Reviews

Scroll down to view the comparison chart of over a dozen different portable digital audio recorders.

Buying a portable digital audio recorder is a major decision. The balance between price, features, and quality is a fine line that has many different options to choose from. There are dozens of different models of portable digital audio recorders, some of which have drastically different sets of features yet sell for roughly the same price. This easy to read head to head comparison chart and guide to many of the more popular portable digital audio recorders is intended to help potential buyers more easily see these differences and make an educated buying decision.

Apps and More for the Choral Classroom

Apps and More for the Choral Classroom

The number of apps, software, and gadgets available for use in the music classroom continues to grow each year but finding things that can actually be beneficial to your classes grows more and more difficult as well. We spoke with Dr. Christopher Russell, Director of Choirs at Oltman Middle School in St. Paul Park, Minnesota to get his must-have list of apps.

Details

Directing a Band

David Law has written a very intropective article on what it means to be a band director and how important it is that we not overburden ourselves with duties to the point that we forget to nurture our own soul as a person. As a band director it is very easy to lose yourself in the daily barrage of band rehearsals, lessons, after school practices and performances. This is the first of two articles he has written that were originally published in the Iowa Bandmaster Magazine.

Watching one of our cats stretched out in front of the fireplace, soaking up that nice warmth and seeming to have no cares in the world sparked this train of thought. We live in a world of deadlines and seem to work at light speed. Too often, when we have reached and passed one deadline, we have our sights set on the next one. Any small amount of free time is usually filled with finding a project that has been sitting patiently at the side of the desk or in the back of the briefcase.

Rushing from one deadline to the next has become the newest American pastime, yet band directors have been at the forefront of this lifestyle for years. Some things we add to our busy school schedules and some just get included on their own. Each project, concert, newsletter, or meeting has its own importance and we feel a deep responsibility to contribute and meet our obligations.

{mosimage}Our students are part of the fast paced lifestyle as well. Think of how many of your students are juggling activities and work schedules that did not exist ten years ago. It seems at times that they are stretched even farther than we are as teachers. As both a parent and as an educator I am amazed and impressed with our student's abilities to multi task and budget their time to include music, along with the other (sometimes more attractive) activities. This is a testament to the power of music and our ability to instill a love of music in our students. In order to continue to inspire our students and to provide those opportunities for learning we too must stay fresh and inspired.

About the Author:

David Law is a career music educator and past president of the Iowa Bandmaster's Association. He currently teaches band at Vernon Middle School in Marion, Iowa.

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