Mindfulness is an incredibly liberating practice; one that has exploded as a recent phenomenon in the western world. Interestingly, us moderns are the last people on the planet to uncover the wealth of treasures it has to offer.
Music and mindfulness are indeed complementary practices. Music and sounds make a wonderful object of focus for the mind, with mindful listening proven to boost our overall wellbeing and reduce stress significantly.
Whilst mindfulness is still finding its way into mainstream culture, music is universal and plays a prominent role in everyday life for most people. Humans are surrounded by music. It is undeniable that it affects people’s moods and emotions, as it engages broad neural networks in the brain.
Playing a musical instrument or listening to music whilst encompassing mindful values can transform the experience; creating the framework for a powerful stress reduction and unlocking the full potential music has to offer as it unfolds in the present moment.
Humans have practiced mindfulness for thousands of years. Mindfulness is the art of being completely engaged in the present moment. It is a transformative practice that allows the mind to be attuned to any present experience, with a clear sense of openness and curiosity.
It’s important to note that mindfulness isn’t about goals or expectations. Nor is it about banishing unwanted thoughts or feelings in the mind. Practicing mindfulness is about building awareness directly to the present moment, whilst being kindly accepting of any thoughts or feelings that may arise. Mindfulness encompasses an underlying theme of acceptance.
Tuning in to the present moment allows us to experience everything that’s there – using our mind like a spotlight. Mindfulness practice requires us to draw our focus to different areas including sensations, sounds, smells, sights and the feeling of the breath.
Zen Buddhists refer to the constant internal chatter humans experience as the “monkey mind”. Through mindfulness practice we can all learn to tune in to the present moment and enjoy the flow of life as it unfolds!
As humans we find ourselves all too distracted in our day-to-day life, missing out on important details, and not even realising just how little attention we pay to the activities we perform! We also know that the mind loves to make judgments, look to the future, overthink past events and interpret our lives in a way that isn’t always beneficial.
Mindfulness isn’t designed to be a miracle cure. But it has the ability to transform our entire perspective and the way in which we experience life. Regular mindful practice has been scientifically proven to alter the biochemistry of our body. It is able to:
The wealth of benefits mindfulness is able to provide is nothing short of extraordinary. Many professional sports teams and athletes employ mindfulness as a tool for improving concentration, self-compassion, awareness and mental composure. It is an exceptionally powerful practice that is fundamentally important for mental wellbeing and reducing stress and tension in our bodies.
Both music and mindfulness offer incredible therapeutic potential, and the individual practices are well matched to benefit one another. In this article I aim to focus on how beginners can utilize mindfulness whilst performing music or listening to music.
Whilst music is an art form and musical ensembles are cooperative by nature, musicians are expected to deliver strong performances. This can bring unnecessary judgment, criticism and comparisons to the forefront of the mind. Through mindfulness, we as musicians are able to experience greater levels of calm and enjoyment from playing, with greater compassion and patience for ourselves.
For everyone who enjoys listening to music, mindful listening is a remarkable way to experience every individual detail within a piece of music; to connect with the sounds in an entirely new way that is free from judgment.
Music and sounds make for a great object of focus, and the great news is that we can all learn to tune in to the present moment – mindfulness is just a skill that is developed and nurtured over time.
Being able to fixate the mind on music and sounds as an object of focus offers continuity, reassurance and a quality of calm. Sounds make an excellent object of focus for the mind. As you listen to music, pay close attention to all of the sounds and nuances you can hear without judging or over-analysing what you hear.
Through shifting the spotlight of focus onto the music and sounds in the present moment, listening and playing along to music can help to increase attentiveness and focus whilst liberating the mind from the worries and doubts that often cloud the mind.
Choose any piece of music to listen to. It can be a familiar song you enjoy or something entirely new. It can also be any style of music. Begin by taking some deep breaths and feel yourself grounded in the chair or wherever you are sat. With a sense of curiosity, notice all of the sensations you feel, including your breath as you inhale and exhale from your lungs.
Noticing the breath is a foundational component of mindfulness meditation. As you sit still, pay close attention to the sensations of the breath. Don’t try to change the way you breathe, but simply observe what happens as your lungs inhale and exhale. Each breath is different – it can be shallow or deep. Observe how your chest expands and softens, and what happens as the breath enters and leaves your body.
Once you feel comfortable with the breathing practice, you can proceed to press play and absorb sounds through your headphones or speakers. I invite you to close your eyes and focus only on the music as it unfolds. There is so much to explore within the music.
There are so many unique sonic qualities within music, and every song is completely different. Bringing a mindful approach to music can totally transform the listening experience and allow you to engage with the music with a fresh perspective. Here are some different ways you can explore music to its full potential.
Imagine that it’s the very first time you have ever heard a type of musical instrument. Listen to the different sounds produced, and notice if they are dark or bright. Are the sounds sharp and punctuated or smooth and mellow? As the song develops listen to how the different instruments communicate with each other within the composition.
Without judging or analyzing, familiarize yourself with the beat of the song and the rhythmic flow. Is the music soft and balanced or more dynamic and lively by nature? Rhythm plays a huge part in music and offers infectious energy to the listener.
Now pay attention to the overall mood of the song. Is it upbeat and cheerful? Or does it perhaps have a more solemn tone? Notice how a song progressively evolves and builds up climactic tension. Perhaps there might be a key change. Does the song sound melodic or is there harmonic dissonance?
If the song has vocals, focus on the unique tone and the range of the singer. What sort of voice does the singer possess? It could be softer or a more powerful voice. Listen carefully to the tone, the emotion and the melodies expressed by the singer.
Drumming in particular is a physically demanding activity that employs a full range of motion from both arm and leg muscles. But all types of musical instruments require movement, dexterity and coordination. You can learn to practice mindful movement for any type of musical instrument!
Musicians are required to pay close attention to the individual areas of contact between the body and the instrument, and all of the muscles that are involved in movements whilst performing a song.
Maintain focus on all the different bodily sensations you feel as they arise whilst you play the instrument. It can feel surprisingly powerful, as we very rarely place focus on it intentionally. Pay close attention to each part of your body, and the contact between you and the instrument with the hands and the contact with your feet on the instrument or on the floor.
Notice what it feels like for your body to execute a musical performance without over-thinking or over-analyzing each note or rhythm. Allow your body to use its muscle memory whilst rehearsing a song you already know how to play. In this way you can gently retain your focus on all of the bodily sensations.
By noticing the sensations that are present, we as musicians can experience what it feels like to play music in a new and unexplored way. This can be likened to a beginners mind, helping us to reclaim an intrinsic joy that music provides.
The mind is almost impossible to control. We reality is that we experience tens of thousands of thoughts each day, many of them being strange and random. Very few of the thoughts we experience are deliberately chosen. During mindfulness practice we allow all types of thoughts and feelings to arise, and to let them go naturally.
Applying too much effort creates a rigid and tense mind that will often lead to frustration and negative judgments. Changing our perspective and the relationship we have with our thoughts will ultimately allow us to feel a greater sense of calm.
A simple metaphor for mindfulness practice can be likened to sitting beside a busy highway. As cars pass by we can choose to notice them and let them drive away and fade into the distance, or become distracted and chase after them.
Instead of exerting energy to resist or block thoughts (which is nearly always to our detriment), we gently bring our focus back onto the present moment. In this way we deliberately allow thoughts and feelings to float by, and we acknowledge them without buying into them.
Mindfulness is often misunderstood as a fluffy concept, or something that is too good to be true. In fact it is a logical and fairly straightforward approach that is freely available for anyone to learn.
Mindfulness is very real and it provides a powerful change in perspective; indeed offering life changing benefits. Introducing regular mindfulness meditation practice into daily life is proven to reduce tension and stress as well as boost enthusiasm and joy for life.
The worlds leading healthcare systems including the UK’s National Health Service advocates mindfulness as a powerful tool in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety amongst patients. Mindfulness has also been adopted from wall-street bankers to top-flight Olympic athletes.
With mindfulness there is no real objective besides being present. There is nowhere to go and nothing to achieve. We simply bring our awareness to what we can feel, see and hear with each passing moment.
Listening to music is a wonderful opportunity to practice mindfulness. Every song is completely different and there really are limitless opportunities to explore. There are so many different aspects of music we can gently guide our focus towards. Simply enjoy being with the present moment, and allow all of the experiences to unfold naturally!
This article was originally posted here:
https://drumhelper.com/blog/music-and-mindfulness-for-stress-reduction/
]]>It can be difficult (and often expensive) to choose the healthiest educational tools that will best foster your child’s talents. There are a million and one resources, from online resources to band camp to private tutors.
Knowing where to start can be as complicated as nodding through those first innocent but pitchy violin notes.
To make fostering your child’s growing musical curiosity a smidgen easier, here’s our guide on how to teach your children music.
According to PBS, “By age five, most children have built a foundation that has prepared them for formalized music lessons”.
Some parents find it best to wait on structured musical education until their child can clearly express musical interest. Although this option avoids the, “My parents made me” story that we often time hear children citing, it’s evident that every child is different.
Trust your parental instincts when choosing the right time to pursue a musical education. Leopold Mozart began teaching his son at four years old and his child ended up alright…
Additionally, there are many benefits of playing a musical instrument. In Time Magazine’s article titled This Is How Music Can Change Your Brain, this is said about the benefits of teaching your young children music:
“Science has shown that when children learn to play music, their brains begin to hear and process sounds that they couldn’t otherwise hear. This helps them develop “Neurophysiological distinction” between certain sounds that can aid in literacy, which can translate into improved academic results for kids.” – Time
In addition to the benefits mentioned in Time Magazine, MusicOomph has put together an extensive list of 25 benefits which can come as a result of playing a musical instrument.
Also, our friends at Mom Loves Best created this amazing infographic which beautifully summarizes many benefits babies and young children can obtain from music, and how you can incorporate music with your kids. Take a look!
As you can see, there are many benefits of introducing music and music education to your kids.
Luckily, there’s not a “no turning back” period for teaching music. Maybe your child is just walking into a middle school or maybe they’re graduating soon. Learning to play music stretches the brain in ways that it can’t without music… no matter what age.
Ask yourself these five questions:
• Does your child constantly sing or hum?
• Does music make your child move, toe tap, or dance?
• Does your child try to match pitch with everyday noises?
• Can your child hold a beat or a rhythm when clapping or snapping?
• Do they often repeat songs out loud, proving they can remember a melody?
If you answer yes to these questions, it might be time for your child to pursue a musical education.
However, before shelling out large amounts of cash to your local music teacher to teach your child, let’s first find how your child learns best.
As a parent, you might already notice how your child acquires new skills or even your own good (and bad) habits. Recognizing their learning behaviors is the first place to start when looking for learning resources.
Is your kid a self-starter?
Do they work better in pairs?
Are they visual, auditory, reading/writing, or kinesthetic learners?
Each learning type responds best to a different method of teaching. It’s unfair to both the teacher and the student if we don’t first take the time to build an environment where students learn best.
If you’re unsure about your child’s learning style, one option is to take this online assessment test to with your child to discover their learning style. (Source: http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles.shtml)
Once you feel confident about what the best learning environment is for your prodigy child, the next step is to explore the various resources available at your fingertips.
Online Resources – Best for self-starter, visual, and auditory learners.
YouTube Tutorials: There are 1.4 million results for, “guitar lessons for kids” on YouTube. There are equal amounts of search results for almost every instrument imaginable.
That’s a lot of results to sift through.
We won’t be rash enough suggest that every one of these videos is going to enlighten your child, but the quality educational content does exist on YouTube and it can be a useful resource for the self-starter type.
However, while YouTube tutorials are popular and probably the easiest free resource to access, we wouldn’t suggest Youtube as the sole source of knowledge for your child’s musical education.
You can’t deny its convenience, but you also can’t deny its difficulty in being relevant to all age groups either. Not to mention sifting through ads, distractions, and poor instructors can waste you a lot of time.
In an interview with Fast Company, Furmanczyk (a Youtube creator with more than 44 million views on their musical tutorial videos) said, “You can’t be fully understood by a 5-year-old, 70-year-old retired veteran, and a 17-year-old teenager all at the same time”.
In short, YouTube tutorials are a great tool to figure out the commitment level of your musically inclined child, it just might not be the end all be all means of parenting musical prodigies.
Protip: create a playlist of approved tutorial videos for your child to explore. This way your child feels entrusted to learn and research on their own without you watching over their shoulder for “not so educational content”. You can also enable Youtube’s safety mode for childproof browsing.
Subscription-based online lessons: Most online subscription websites will have a rubric that offers more structure than just an online tutorial, but still welcomes the learner to work at their own pace.
Luckily, we at Musician’s Toolkit are experts in the field of online music education. We offer dynamic video lessons, courses, and interviews with expert instructors. We’ve collected the music industry’s finest and most distinguished professionals to share their knowledge with your child.
Additionally, we have interactive quiz assessments to check for understanding and virtually every aspect of music education online. Through our quiz structure, you can make sure that your child is truly learning from each video lesson for ensured progress.
What’s more, since we’re a subscription-based platform, you won’t have to worry about ads or other distractions that you sometimes find on other platforms like YouTube. Our course structure is designed to give your child the freedom to create the learning pathway the best fits them.
Protip: Because our Toolkit covers many different areas of music education, start your child on one topic to see how they respond and grow with their newly discovered musical schooling. We suggest Musician’s Toolkit for any child ages 11+ that are curious about a musical instrument, music business, music composition, and music recording.
Best for dependent, reading/writing, and kinesthetic learners.
Group Lessons: Usually, “outside the home” educational tools cost more than online options and deserve an appropriate budget. Group lessons tend to be more affordable than private one-on-one lessons, but still, encourage a similar atmosphere.
Music classes are most resourceful for the, “sometimes dependent” child who learns best through interaction. Not only can your child learn and collaborate with an instructor, but they can also study with their peers to refine their techniques and practices.
Participating in a group setting has specific social benefits for your child as well. Going to a weekly group lesson can give children a sense of belonging and understanding as they engage, communicate, and collaborate with other children their age who share their musical interest.
Protip: A good ‘ol Google search for “music classes for children near me” will deliver options near you.
School and Community Based Bands and Ensembles: Most public school communities offer the standard music programs of band, orchestra, and choir. Some offer other diverse ensembles that can be participated in such as jazz, quartets, and singing groups.
It is important to select a program WITH your child, making sure you both feel it fits and offers quality music education.
Music programs can become an integral part of your child’s social and scholastic life. They are often times an extended part of your family.
We strongly support music teachers and programs and highly encourage you and your child to be active participants in the music programs your local school and community offers. This will play an integral role in motivating students to practice instruments and music.
If you’re unsure of where to begin on helping your child pick an instrument or music program, our friends at Be Part of the Music will help you get started.
Private Lessons: One-on-one music lessons offer more benefits than a class or group setting. This is because an experienced instructor will analyze your child’s learning behavior and know how to best teach musical skills without having to divide their energy among other students.
If your child seems frustrated with their learning progress, private lessons can help re-instill self-esteem and a sense of focus. Dependent type learners will find it easier to stay motivated with a private instructor as well.
Protip: If you or your child feel like they’re falling behind in a group or classroom setting, private lessons can help your child keep up outside the classroom. If you prefer local private lessons, you can seek referrals from friends and your child’s music teachers at school.
For the parent wanting to learn music so they can teach their children.
Do you feel capable enough in your musical knowledge to train your child? If yes, then we suggest utilizing some of the online tools that we mentioned above in your teaching. Like we said, Mozart learned from his father and we know how he turned out…
If the answer is no, but you’re wanting to learn music for yourself in order to pass down your knowledge to your children, the resources at your disposal are similar.
Even better, taking the musical journey WITH your child can sometimes build camaraderie and lessen the fear of failing that some children face when learning something new like a musical instrument.
We’re also large supporters of the Suzuki Method. The Suzuki approach, however, relies on parent responsibility, loving encouragement, and constant repetition.
If you’re interested to train in the Suzuki philosophy and approach, the Suzuki Association of the Americas offers a Teacher Development Program, plus a myriad of other resources to help with your involvement in your child’s musical journey.
Get yourself into a music class for adults. Get a private tutor. Subscribe to an online platform like Musician’s Toolkit that will walk you through the steps of music theory.
The key to maximizing your child’s brain power when it comes to music is interaction, not just appreciation.
We also believe that music begins in the home. Discover how your child learns best, then provide the appropriate resources that will foster a safe environment for your child to learn something new.
Lastly, there’s nothing wrong with a little trial and error.
Your child might switch between three different instruments or three different learning platforms. Frustration might come when progress isn’t being met the way you or your child would like it to happen.
However, the goal is to not give up. Keep your child learning, ask them for their input, and to provide as much creative support as possible.
You can start today by opening up a conversation with your child about their musical interest. Ask them what they’re most curious about, what they’re most excited about learning, and how you as a parent can best support them in this journey.
And remember, it’s never too late to learn music.
Sources:
1.) Music Resources for Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/musicresources/parents.asp
2.) Cutietta, D. A. (n.d.). What’s the Right Age to Begin Music Lessons? Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/whats-the-right-age-to-begin-music-lessons/
3.) O’Donnell, A. (2017, March 10). How to Use YouTube’s Parental Controls. Retrieved from https://www.lifewire.com/youtube-parental-controls-2487977
4.) Kwan, A. (n.d.). 6 Benefits of Music Lessons. Retrieved from http://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/benefits-of-music-lessons/http://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/benefits-of-music-lessons/
5.) Locker, M. (2014, December 16). This Is How Music Can Change Your Brain. Retrieved from http://time.com/3634995/study-kids-engaged-music-class-for-benefits-northwestern/
6.) Reed, D. (2012, February 15). YouTube Music Lessons Are Popular, But Won’t Get You To Carnegie Hall. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/1799124/youtube-music-lessons-are-popular-wont-get-you-carnegie-hall
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You might remember the debate three years ago when the internet collectively lost its mind over “the dress— “was it black and blue or white and gold?
On Tuesday May 15th, 2018, a new phenomenon emerged that has people arguing like it’s the dress all over again.
According to the experts, it depends!
As it turns out, there is a musical explanation behind the dichotomy.
“Yanny” is heard when played at a higher pitch, and so interpretation can hinge upon the kind of speaker the clip is played through.
As explained by Brad Story, Professor of Speech, Language and Hearing at The University of Arizona, “you have to take into account the different ways people are listening to this—through mobile phones, headphones, tablets, etc.” (1)
For example, a speaker with more bass would sound more like “Laurel,” whereas a phone speaker or one with poor bass would sound like “Yanny.”
Pitch interpretation is also affected by age— younger people are more likely to hear “Yanny” because their ears pick up higher pitches more frequently.
Another possible explanation is that some people simply listen to— or “attend”— a higher or lower frequency based on personal preference.
Patricia Keating, a linguistics professor and the director of the phonetics lab at U.C.L.A., described the difference, suggesting that factors like how much time we spend talking on the phone can have an effect.
She described, “I have no idea why some listeners attend more to the lower frequency range while others attend more to the higher frequency range.” (2)
Audio experts are also pointing out that acoustic patterns and similarities between the two words affect perception.
Jody Kreiman, a principal investigator at the voice perception laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained that “the acoustic patterns for the utterance are midway between those for the two words.”
Can you only hear one frequency, but want to hear both?
One idea is to turn down the volume on your phone or computer. Lower volume can sometimes drop the bass value and emphasize the higher pitches.
Want to become a real music expert?
Check out our online music lessons including courses such as guitar for beginners.
While your family and friends lose their minds over Yanny vs. Laurel, kick back and start your music education online with Musician’s Toolkit!
Check out this awesome infographic which visually depicts the music and science behind this latest Internet phenomenon!
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One of the best things judges do at marching band competitions is recording tapes while they are critiquing your performance. This is beneficial to you as a performer or a coach because you can hear what the judges are thinking as they are watching your performance. One of the biggest mistakes performers make is getting caught up in their emotions- being upset after not winning or being thrilled if they do place first. When performers get too caught up in their emotions, they often times don’t think of listening to the tapes and as a result, they miss out on so many learning opportunities and other benefits.
Jeff Young, a marching band expert mentions in his article, “Marching Band Tips Part One- Managing Critique with Judges” the importance of listening to these tapes before going into a judging critique. These critiques are times when you are allowed to go talk with judges after the competition to discuss what they did and didn’t like about your performance and where you have room to improve. These critiques are a great way to learn and improve if you approach them the in the right way. Jeff Young explains that listening to the tapes before attending is important because you can use them as a reference in your critique.
Judges are watching a lot of performances and are normally pretty mentally drained by the end of the competition. They only have a couple minutes to say everything they think about your performance- not nearly enough time to give adequate feedback. Also, the odds of them remembering why they gave you a certain score in one category is a long shot. If you’ve listened to the tapes and still have questions, you can show the judges the clip you are confused about. This will often times help judges jog their memories. This way they will be able to elaborate on what they meant at certain parts of their critique.
When you are listening to the judges’ tapes, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and like your performance wasn’t very good. It can feel like the judges are questioning if you even know how to the play the drums, however, it is so important to not fall into this trap. One good way to stay on top of this is to focus on corrections you get from multiple judges. If one judge likes this part and another doesn’t and the third judge simply says nothing about the specific part, how do you know what to do? However, if all three judges say a certain point in your performance could use some work it is a lot easier to know what to do. Make comments that are similar across the board of judges a priority of things to fix, rather than dwelling on every single minor critique each judge says.
Sometimes you can hear common themes throughout the entire tape. Let’s use technique for example. Say throughout all the tapes, you keep hearing the judges mention that you aren’t holding your instruments correctly, or your marching isn’t always in sync. As a coach, understanding correctly how to teach the drums, trumpets, and clarinets are crucial to your performers’ success. In this case, having a mid-season refresher on the very basics of how to hold your trumpet or how to play the drums can help fix this problem.
Critiques can be a humbling experience. They can make you feel super awesome or super not awesome. However, no matter how you did in the competition, you can be a winner when it comes to learning from critiques. Taking the time to listen to tape before you go into critiques can help you learn from the judges more, it can help you decide on what you really do need to work on, and it can give you ideas on how to improve your performance. Judge’s tapes are one of the single best ways to improve your team’s technique and as a result, improve your team’s performance for future competitions.
]]>Incorrect posture while learning how to play the drums can lead to many bad habits and result in a lot of pain down the road. Many people have found that not learning the correct posture inhibits them from actually hitting the skins of the drums properly, which really changes the sound produced.
If you play a drum kit rather than a snare drum in a marching band, your largest complication comes from having good posture in your back since there is no back to your stool. If you’re learning how to teach the drums, it’s vital that you stress this point from the beginning. Keeping proper back posture prevents a lot of back injuries that will result in a lot of pain while drumming. This pain often interferes with the effectivity of your practices and can inhibit your ability to participate in long performances.
Sitting Up Straight
Sitting with your back slouched can cause a lot of problems to your health, and is overall very detrimental to your skeletal system, and likewise to the longevity of your drumming career. Learning how to play the drums involves many steps, but this may be the most important. Sitting up straight may not directly hinder your musical ability, but it can make simple movements more difficult than necessary when learning how to play the drums.
Sitting at the Correct Height
Adjusting your chair to the right height is often overlooked by many when learning how to play the drums. Learning a new instrument can always feel a little awkward, so we don’t seem to notice how our seat height is influencing how we play. When sitting, you should make sure that your knees are between a 90-110 degree angle, and your feet should be comfortably placed on the floor or the pedals. If you are learning how to teach the drums, familiarize yourself with how to adjust your stool, and help your students do so prior to every rehearsal.
Arm Posture
Since the majority of what people see when you play your instrument is your posture, it’s important that every part of your body has good posture, even your arms. When learning how to play the drums you should practice relaxing your arms by loosening the joints in your shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Doing so will give you more control over your instrument.
Marching Band Drummers
Now, you can still adopt all of these tips when learning how to play the drums in the marching band. Standing up perfectly straight looks better and causes less tension on the rest of your body. If your drums are heavy, your posture is even more essential. Keeping your arms loose and relaxed also still allows you to better play your instrument and overall looks better. If you have questions about your posture as you learn how to play the drums, you should consult with your band director.
Good posture when playing the drums is absolutely essential, we can’t stress it enough! Better posture not only looks better and gives you an air of confidence, but it also greatly influences how well you can play your instrument, no matter the occasion. It’s important to always make sure that you have proper posture so that you can create good habits, and not have to constantly worry about it. Do your body a favor and stand or sit up straighter at your next practice!
Check out the original blog post
Posture is one of the most important principles when learning to play an instrument, and that certainly includes learning how to play the drums. Good posture is very important when learning how to play the drums, just as it is for every instrument. You may not consider posture very important when it comes to the drums because a lot of the music comes from your hands and feet, but your posture greatly influences the sound that comes from your drums. So, let’s talk about why it’s especially important to maintain good posture while playing the drums.
Incorrect posture while learning how to play the drums can lead to many bad habits and result in a lot of pain down the road. Many people have found that not learning the correct posture inhibits them from actually hitting the skins of the drums properly, which really changes the sound produced.
If you play a drum kit rather than a snare drum in a marching band, your largest complication comes from having good posture in your back since there is no back to your stool. If you’re learning how to teach the drums, it’s vital that you stress this point from the beginning. Keeping proper back posture prevents a lot of back injuries that will result in a lot of pain while drumming. This pain often interferes with the effectivity of your practices and can inhibit your ability to participate in long performances.
Sitting Up Straight
Sitting with your back slouched can cause a lot of problems to your health, and is overall very detrimental to your skeletal system, and likewise to the longevity of your drumming career. Learning how to play the drums involves many steps, but this may be the most important. Sitting up straight may not directly hinder your musical ability, but it can make simple movements more difficult than necessary when learning how to play the drums.
Sitting at the Correct Height
Adjusting your chair to the right height is often overlooked by many when learning how to play the drums. Learning a new instrument can always feel a little awkward, so we don’t seem to notice how our seat height is influencing how we play. When sitting, you should make sure that your knees are between a 90-110 degree angle, and your feet should be comfortably placed on the floor or the pedals. If you are learning how to teach the drums, familiarize yourself with how to adjust your stool, and help your students do so prior to every rehearsal.
Arm Posture
Since the majority of what people see when you play your instrument is your posture, it’s important that every part of your body has good posture, even your arms. When learning how to play the drums you should practice relaxing your arms by loosening the joints in your shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Doing so will give you more control over your instrument.
Marching Band Drummers
Now, you can still adopt all of these tips when learning how to play the drums in the marching band. Standing up perfectly straight looks better and causes less tension on the rest of your body. If your drums are heavy, your posture is even more essential. Keeping your arms loose and relaxed also still allows you to better play your instrument and overall looks better. If you have questions about your posture as you learn how to play the drums, you should consult with your band director.
Good posture when playing the drums is absolutely essential, we can’t stress it enough! Better posture not only looks better and gives you an air of confidence, but it also greatly influences how well you can play your instrument, no matter the occasion. It’s important to always make sure that you have proper posture so that you can create good habits, and not have to constantly worry about it. Do your body a favor and stand or sit up straighter at your next practice!
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Over the course of any marching band season, many hours of time is spent in rehearsing the brass section on its own to try to create a sonorous and powerful brass sound. Usually, the focus of these rehearsals is weighted heavily on working to develop technical skills, flexibility and range. Unfortunately, often the most important musical aspect of brass performance is ignored – the development of the ear! The ear should be trained to lead the musician through beautiful lyrical excerpts as well as tough technical passages.
When singing –
• Your posture should be just as it would be while marching
• Keep your arms relaxed and to your sides
• Sing excerpts with a “DAH” or “TAH” syllable (light on the “D” and “T”)
• Keep your face relaxed while singing
• You must try to be as absolutely accurate on pitches as possible (It is a false hope to think you will be able to match the pitch on the horn correctly when you can’t also match it with your voice)
• Breathe as if you are playing the instrument
When using the mouthpiece –
• Hold the mouthpiece with your right hand and with only the thumb and first two fingers
• Your left arm should be relaxed and to the side – watch for students who have their arms across their stomach or in their pockets
• Use as much air as you would need to get the entire horn to speak
• Keep your face and jaw relaxed
• Try to match articulations and pitch as closely as possible – remember you are working to train your ears more than any other part of your body
When playing –
• Be sure you are playing with an equal sound and articulation to the players on either side of you (Think of playing in “trios” within the section)
• Keep your face and jaw relaxed – don’t let the horn become a “tension machine”
• Open your ears to your sound, the sounds around you and the entire sound of the ensemble (Listening is a holistic concept!)
• Remember that the tongue is not part of your sound – it is just a rhythmic element – use a light articulation and get to the “ah” part of the “dah” quickly
Jeff Young is the President of Dynamic Marching, a series of videos that teach marching band students and teachers the best practices of quality band programs.
]]>Why is Posture Important?
Just like any moment in your music career, posture is something that we will always be working on and adjusting. When a vocalist is singing, they constantly make adjustments to their voice in order to have the proper tone and pitch to refine their sound. Your posture can affect the sound of your voice, and even the sound of your instrument. A musician must always be aware of their posture so that they can adjust and improve their sound and overall look.
From a medical standpoint, having good posture reduces strain on your spine, and keeps your bones and joints aligned properly. This prevents fatigue because your muscles are being used more efficiently, therefore allowing your body to use less energy. This correlates directly with playing an instrument because maintaining good posture while playing your instrument will prevent your muscles from fatiguing as quickly. In various instruments like the piano, violin, or guitar, its essential to maintain proper posture not only from a physical fatigue aspect but because much of the sound produced comes from the technique that is developed through proper posture. This all comes into play when you are first learning a musical instrument.
No matter the music courses, your instructor should walk you through proper posture, and be constantly correcting your posture to ensure you learn correctly.
Improving Your Posture
Make sure to keep your head in alignment with your shoulders, not stick your head out too far forward or backward. If this is difficult for you, try adjusting your music so that it is at eye level. This should make it possible for you to read your music without moving your head.
Your arms and shoulders should look loose and relaxed while still holding your instrument strongly. Keep your shoulders rolled back to prevent collapsing your rib cage, giving you a larger air capacity and preventing strain on your spine. Your hips should be level, not tilted too far forward or backward. This will allow your back to be straight. If you are a vocalist, this is incredibly important in your music courses because it allows you to further expand your rib cage. Bad posture can compromise your vocal depth and range. This also remains true for other instruments that require your air capacity to be top notch.
Quick Tips:
Lastly, RELAX
Many people get too focused on their posture that they tense up. Putting the physical benefits of good posture aside, standing or sitting straight while playing your musical instruments adds an aesthetic appeal to your talent. Good posture says a lot about a person’s confidence and can definitely make your music look better. Plus, being relaxed while you play your instrument will help you play better in your music courses and performances.
While participating in musical instrument lessons—as an instructor or a student—it is important to set high standards when it comes to posture. You always want to look your best as a musician, but most importantly you do not want to take away from your musical potential by having poor technique due to your bad posture. Enhance your musical instrument lessons by implementing good posture practices into every rehearsal!
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There are a lot of different types of collegiate music programs, and understanding the differences can be confusing for students and parents. Some conservatories are standalone music schools with no other affiliation. However, other conservatories may be a part of an university or have a reciprocal agreement with a nearby institution so that students can take classes there.
Universities may have a college devoted entirely to music, or it may be a part of a fine arts college within the university. Smaller schools may have a music or fine arts department, while other school may have no official music program but still offer ensemble experiences to their students.
Here are some of the United States’ leading instrumental faculty members. All of them happen to play and teach the double bass along with other courses at their institutions. This was drawn from a recent podcast episode about music school auditions.
Some of the distinctions between studying at a conservatory versus a university, in the United States anyway, are less evident now than in the past. Most conservatories have some affiliation with a nearby university to enable students to take some academic coursework, and some universities have as rich a performing experience for their students as any conservatory. See which specific environment, and above all, teacher and studio, suit you best.
– James VanDemark, Eastman School of Music
If you’re attracted to a conservatory, such as Juilliard, you should plan on spending a lot of time practicing, and also spending your time maximizing your contact time with notable faculty. You’ll have amazing peers, and they’ll provide an incredible resource throughout your whole career. Having the name of a prestige institution on your resume can be a lifelong career boost.
However, you may find that there’s a lot of competition for leadership positions and for experiences in various forms of music and in various groups. If you thrive on competition, this is a good place to go.
If you find that a bit daunting or stifling, then you might have to consider some other things, because it’s not always the most nurturing environment. The key word is competition.
In a university, there is more opportunity for cooperation and creativity. However, you’ll have a lot of coursework, and it’s great for broadening your horizons intellectually, but it may also limit your practice time. While you’re at the university, you may have more leadership opportunities and diversity of playing experiences, because you may be one of the more outstanding students. While you’re at the university, maximize your achievements, both musically and intellectually. The you can use your summer time to really hone in on practicing, either individually or at a festival program.
There are schools that are more of a combination, like the University of Michigan or Indiana University. You may consider a school like this if you have some talents intellectually also. You could do a double degree program, and a lot of people find that very advantageous, both career-wise and personally.
There’s also a “mix-and-match” option, especially if money is limited. Think about going to a very affordable undergraduate school, like a university that may have a good teacher that you really like. Then do your “crazy achievement” there, get a lot of playing experience in different groups and genres, and then select summer programs that will expose you to potential graduate programs that have a high profile. Very often, if you go to a more expensive graduate school, they may also give you a lot of financial help if that’s a consideration.
– Diana Gannett, University of Michigan (emeritus)
I think you have to really ask yourself what you really want for your college experience. Some people are going to be more comfortable with a university setting, something that’s perhaps a little bit more well-rounded in experiences. You’ll have your football games and that kind of thing going on, with more of a “campus life” idea.
With a conservatory, you might be in a downtown landscape with a very intense schedule and very intense expectations. I think you just need to think about those two options and what’s going to work better for your long-term goals.
If you’re going to go to a university, do a lot of research and make sure the standards are high. I was very lucky to go to the University of Michigan for undergrad, which had a beautiful campus environment and a real “Big Ten” feeling. I met all kinds of people from all kinds of places, but it also had a music school with really high standards and demanding expectations, which is crucial if you want to do [music] professionally.
If you’re going to think about a conservatory, it’s important that alongside that you make sure that it’s a healthy and supportive environment. Do some research and get to know some folks that are in the studio, and find out what it’s really like.
The brochure will not always reflect what it’s really like. It’s important to get on the campus and meet people that have done it. With the conservatory, you really want to make sure that you’re up for that kind of intensity and that kind of challenge, because it can be a stressful place. It’s a really good thing, but you just need to make sure that that’s what you want.
– Kieran Hanlon, State University of New York at Fredonia
I had my training in conservatories in Ankara, Turkey, followed by The Hartt School in Connecticut. I came to the United States for grad work in Connecticut. I have to say, there’s definitely an advantage of being with many high-level players, to be always motivating.
Then again, I have been teaching at the University of Iowa for about 16 years, and being in the university setting has been very helpful. My students are exposed to many fields other than music, for their intellectual and general growth as an individual.
– Volkan Orhon, University of Iowa
The Oberlin experience combines elements of both conservatory and university worlds. The [Oberlin] Conservatory is separate from the College, but the two can combine for lots of options. You can choose to completely focus on music in the Conservatory, or add non-music electives in the College. There’s also a great five-year double-degree program.
A college differs from a university in that there are no graduate students. Therefore, there are many leadership positions for undergraduate students on campus, such as principal positions which might have otherwise gone to a grad student.
– Tracy Rowell, Oberlin College
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this has been helpful in clearing up some of the confusion between a university and a conservatory for music students. In future posts, we’ll be digging into other commonly asked questions about the music school audition process.
]]>And in fourth place… (Insert your marching band’s name here). Now what? You are positive you should have won the show. Your kids are working hard, everyone says that it is the most creative show you have ever put together, your show is way harder than the other guy’s show, etc. Are you going crazy– or is it the fault of the judges? Every band director has had this scenario happen in one form or another over the years and you need to know how to deal with these questions and frustrations in a positive manner if and when you get to go to critique and talk to the judging panel. The worst thing you can do is go into critique mad and ill-prepared. Here are some tips and tricks from a current DCI staff member and BOA judge to help you get the most out of critique.
Listen to the tapes BEFORE you get to the judges critique.
It is very difficult to remember exact details of a marching band performance after a whole day of judging bands, so the judge’s tape is very important to link certain points in your show with certain positive or negative comments from the judge.
Remind the judge of specific things he or she said on the tape that you would like further clarification on. Also, inform the judge regarding anything you would like them to understand more clearly about your show/performance.
Check your ego and your temper at the door.
You WILL see this judge again. Develop relationships, do not burn bridges. What is the point in getting mad? All you need to do is explain why you think that your students are doing a better job maxing out a particular caption and helping the judge to see what he or she missed.
NEVER talk about (insert your closest competitor here).
Everyone comes into critique and says, “We might be dirtier, but so-and-so is doing way less than we are.” This may be the case, but unless two groups are exactly alike except for the difficulty of their music, drill, or simultaneous responsibilities then it is like comparing apples to oranges.
It is never appropriate to mention other group’s performances or scores in critique. All you can do is talk about the perceived level of success of your group on THAT day and the extent to which the judge used the judging sheets, rubrics, and accepted conventions of ranking and rating appropriately.
Realize that early in season NO ONE is very polished and the actual scores mean very little.
However, the value of a tenth is important and you should take a look at this. If you are within 3-4 tenths of another group within one caption, that judge is telling you that you are virtually even with that group except for minor differences.
If you are greater than a point back from a particular group within the same caption from the same judge, he or she is saying that unless major efforts are mounted and major cleaning or changing occurs—you are not in the same league and probably won’t catch them.
In addition, if you are part of a very long day of competition (over 12 bands) you should know that the ORDER of placement is much more telling of how a judge feels than the actual score. With tons of bands, many judges will “leave room” for bands that are yet to come and the actual caption scores might not be where they would be.
]]>Purpose
Being part of a school band gives students a reason to play an instrument, and reason to keep getting better. The ability to be apart of a group that is motivated to perform at a peak level gives kids incentive to get better. In contrast, when a child is required to play an instrument because their parents make them or from their personal desires, the drive to get better comes from within oneself. Having a purpose helps provide a reason to play.
Friends
Based on the size of the school, bands can vary from 25-100 different kids with one purpose. This shared purpose and close proximity to others create a healthy way for kids to make friends. Especially as the band is broken into different sections where it is easier to get to know others that are apart of their same group.
Being apart of a Team
In addition to the ability to make special bonds and friendships with other band members, being apart of the band provides all the benefits that come from being on a team. For example, considering these kids are beginner trumpet players or oboe players, they work in unity and come across constructive teamwork building opportunities. These opportunities combined with the purpose of being the best band requires discipline to follow strict instruction.
Having an Instructor
When someone works to learn an instrument on their own, they miss the opportunity to be critiqued and must rely on their own drive to push themselves harder. A present band instructor can recognize not only technique mistakes and shaky notes but also students that might be struggling with low-self-confidence. These instructors become life mentors for students to lean on.
Competition
Though the band is united in purpose, there is a competition between students to be better than the next. Kids aim to be the top-chair or the best in their group. This facilitates competitive challenges that help motivate students to keep up with their practice in order to be the best. So even if you have a child that wants to learn flute online, being apart of the band not take away from anything, but only help them anticipate their lessons outside of school as they aim to be the best!
Performances
In the end, a band simply wants to help students learn the beneficial life-long habits of performing at their highest level. The largest test or challenge bands have are their live performance when they must show everyone in attendance how well they can play together. Doing so tests kids mental abilities, and pushes them to take practice seriously. The extra clarinet lessons or online saxophone lessons from Musicians Toolkit only helps students to be more prepared for their concert.
Band truly provides kids the ability to develop skills that are needed throughout life and emotional fulfillment in supportive friends and instructors. Therefore, if you have a child that wants to learn to play saxophone or another instrument, then encourage him to join the band. You can show further support by helping him be their best by signing them up for online saxophone lessons or any kind of lesson found on Musicians Toolkit. We even have marching band instructions from Jeff Young (search Dynamic Marching Band to find out more). Whatever you end up doing, help your children see all the benefits of playing in the school band.
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In order to excel as you learn how to play the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or another instrument that requires the use of a mouthpiece, developing a good ear is a must! Contrary to popular belief, a good ear is not an innate gift to those lucky professional musicians, but a skill that is developed over time. A good ear is a trained ear, an experienced ear, and an ear that understands how notes should sound. Through the repetitive practice of the following steps—sing, mouthpiece, play—you too will be on your way to a good ear!
SING
YES, even if you are simply learning how to play the saxophone, a little singing will help. If you are tone-deaf, do not worry, try the following steps nonetheless to better understand what the notes should sound like in your mind.
When you sing:
While it may be ridiculous to expect yourself to replicate the pitch of a horn instrument or a woodwind instrument, this step is a preparatory step that will simply help gear your mind to what the music should sound like when you actually produce it.
Keeping your arms relaxed and your posture straight is a singing tip that will help you hit the notes properly. It also is a good time to imitate the sturdy form you need while marching. Once you start singing, there is no need to stress what is being said; a simple “DAH” or “TAH”does the trick. In addition to this, the volume at which you sing “DAH” and “TAH” does not matter as long as it is audible enough for you to hear the change between each note—it does not need to be at full voice. By relaxing your face, you will be more likely able to stabilize the notes so that the pitch is consistent and the notes that come from your mouth do not wave. Even in your breathing, the more you can mimic the sounds and actions of the selected piece, the better you will be at recognizing what is on or off key when you play.
MOUTHPIECE
Learning how to play the clarinet, trombone or trumpet all require playing with a mouthpiece and the transition from voice to instrument can be funky. Through following similar steps as the “SING” steps, you will be able to adjust to your instrument and continue to train the ear.
When you use the mouthpiece:
As an instrumentalist, you are accustomed to wrapping your hands around the instrument and holding the mouthpiece to your lips, but here you will do it with your hands. The other hand might want to lazily hang in your pockets or on your stomach to feel the tension build and release as you blow air into the mouthpiece, but avoid doing so. You will not be doing that as you play and you want to simulate the same airflow pattern as you would when you actually perform the piece. This process is in order to train your ears, not other parts of your body, so you want to stay relaxed and focus on producing sound and listening closely.
PLAY
From here, there is not much more too it. You are already learning how to play the saxophone or tuba, now you just have to focus on listening.
When you play:
These last four tips focus on the playing aspect, but also focus a lot on the listening! There is no need to say anything more than putting your concentration on your play and the sound you pick up in your ear.
Whether you are with a group or alone, the effort you put forward to implementing these steps will reward you significantly. A good ear is attainable even if you don’t think you were born with one. So, even if you are just learning how to play the clarinet or learning how to play the saxophone, stick to it! It will come.
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I am a music educator, I understand how important it is to plan for success.
Setting goals and following strategies to reach those goals helps me plan and achieve the goals that I want.
Whether my goals are communicating with my administrators more effectively or maximizing my time efficiently, there are effective strategies to reach these goals.
In addition, I appreciate the need to be well prepared in the delivery of my instruction.
From my experience, I also have found that students don’t care how much I know until they know how much I care about them.
In order to plan for success, be prepared, and to let students know that I care about them, I have implemented five classroom management strategies into my teaching.
Here are the strategies I use which promote a positive learning environment:
• Create a culture of respect and rapport
• Establish a culture for learning by establishing appropriate expectations
• Manage procedures effectively and efficiently
• Organize and structure our physical space.
• Manage behavior
For the duration of this article, I will explain more in depth each of these classroom management strategies and how to implement them yourself.
Let’s begin, shall we?
My Top Five Classroom Management Strategies
Strategy 1: Create A Culture of Respect And Rapport
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Ever heard that phrase before? Chances are you have. What’s more, as a teacher leading a classroom, this is incredibly relevant.
However, in your case, the general term “people” are replaced with a more specific audience: your students.
So, here’s the deal.
Master teachers understand that it’s not good enough to simply have an exceptional command of our subject matter, or well-written lesson plans.
There’s much more to it than that.
Master teachers connect with students on a personal level and they discover value in each of their students.
To that end, it’s a good idea to consider what type of students we teach. In Barbara Kellerman’s book entitled, “Followership”, she describes the five levels of engagement between a leader (teacher) and followers (students).
Let’s break them down.
• Diehards: are deeply devoted and defined by their dedication and all-consuming effort.
• Activists: feel strongly about their leader (teacher) and act accordingly. They are eager, energetic, and engaged. They demonstrate work ethic to a lesser degree than Diehards.
• Participants: are in some way engaged and invest some degree of time or effort in order to have an impact.
• Bystanders: observe but do not participate and demonstrate tacit support for the task at hand.
• Isolates: are detached, unresponsive, or unengaged.
Ideally, we want the students to at the very least be participants.
Think About Your Own Teachers
Now the question is, “How can we minimize the amount of ‘Isolate’ and ‘Bystander’ students in our classrooms?”
To do that, let’s think back to our own personal experiences and the teachers we had that impacted us.
Let me give you an example from my life.
One of my teachers that comes to mind is Donna Maydew, my high school algebra teacher. Miss Maydew knew how to connect with me and realized that math was not my forte.
However, she was always willing to meet with me outside of class as many times as it took to be successful. I realized, while I was no fan of math, I was a big fan of Miss Maydew because she cared about my success in and beyond the classroom.
Mark Munoz is another teacher who I have great respect for. He was my band teacher from 5th grade until I graduated from Ray High School. I grew up in the small mining community of Kearny, Arizona where the band program was certainly not considered a music powerhouse.
Yet, Mr. Munoz had both the presence of mind and goodness of heart to connect with all his students.
Because of him and the interest, time that he invested in me and other students, along with the respect and rapport that he had with over three decades of students
• I became a music educator
• Many of his students also pursued music, or became educators, or successful in their careers of their own choosing
• He was able to have a profound impact far beyond the band room
What About Your Teachers?
So, think back to your favorite teachers.
• Why did you respect them so much?
• How did you know they cared about you?
I invite you to jot down your responses and find ways to embed those endearing qualities into your teaching.
Oh, and by the way, we might also want to go one step further and reconnect with them, if possible, to thank them for all they did to inspire us.
One last thought about caring.
In Karen S. Hendricks’ book entitled, “Compassionate Music Teaching,” she states that caring relates to the way in which we “care for” our students, rather than merely “caring about” our students.
In other words, “caring for” goes beyond a more distanced concern to a state of action. I find that Hendrick’s, “state of action” is such a subtle, yet powerful belief.
Strategy 2: Establish Appropriate Expectations
We want to set expectations for learning and achievement as soon as possible. And, keep in mind how important it is to be intentional and consistent with our expectations.
• One simple, but effective example of establishing a culture for learning is to be consistent with starting and ending rehearsals on time. In rehearsal, if the expectation is to start the warm-up process two minutes after the bell rings, be consistent by starting on time.
• Another example is to reward, recognize, and celebrate. In Tom Connellan’s book entitled, “Inside the Magic Kingdom – Seven Keys to Disney’s Success”, he points out that a ratio of three positive to one negative comments helps keep motivation and teamwork high.
Beyond that, if learning seems to be compromised at any point, and it may, go back and review with our students what the appropriate expectations are. With the last example, go back and explain the benefits of starting class on time and actually practice and develop the learned behavior that is expected.
The bottom line is that if we want to establish an appropriate culture for learning, we must be willing to teach and reinforce what appropriate behavior is.
And while it may seem like we’re spending too much time on behavior rather than instruction, the research is clear. Rick Dahlgren, President of Time To Teach and the Center for Teacher Effectiveness states that students will be more successful once the appropriate culture for learning is established.
Strategy 3: Manage Procedures Efficiently And Effectively
Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.” – Peter Drucker
Here are suggestions that can we can implement while considering the different types of students that we have and the level of engagement that takes place in our classes:
• Just like starting class on time, consider how time is being used during rehearsals. Let’s video recording ourselves repeatedly to monitor how well we manage our class time.
• Have our lesson plans visible to the students. Students appreciate a game plan, especially when they successfully accomplish the game plan.
• If we find ourselves constantly running out of time, include time limits for each activity throughout the class period.
• Take note of on-task activity compared to off-task activity and change the pacing accordingly.
The goal is to make the best use of the time that we have by minimizing the down-time as much as possible.
Strategy 4: Organize And Structure Our Physical Space
When doing this, consider the following factors:
• Safety, both physical and emotional well-being.
• Seating arrangements that maximizes focus and learning. One example is to pair more experienced students with younger students.
• The physical distance from students as well as the ability to navigate throughout the classroom.
• Having students who don’t have much of a part, sit in the front of the class with scores in hand.
• Using a projection screen to show a score for all students to view during rehearsals.
• Other factors in the classroom that may that may over-stimulate our students, such as: bold paint colors or excessive posters.
These are all examples of ways to better structure and organize the physical space of the classroom.
Strategy 5: Manage Behavior
As I’ve already suggested, setting proper expectations up front is key to managing behavior.
• That said, when students demonstrate questionable behavior, determine if the behavior is interrupting our instruction or the students’ learning.
• If not, then continue teaching and address the issue at a more appropriate time.
• If the instruction or learning is being affected, refocus the student’s behavior in a quick, respectful way and continue with the instruction.
• This can be achieved as easily as asking them to do something that requires engagement of some sort, or by us physically positioning ourselves closer to them.
• Also, keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to praise in public and reprimand in private.
To be clear, it’s not possible to cover everything about managing misbehavior in a single blog post.
Regardless, a good rule of thumb is that it’s important to be proactive, rather than reactive to student behavior.
Other factors that affect behavior includes:
• Proper planning and preparation
• Engagement through effective instruction
• Developing effective assessment strategies
• Ongoing professional development
Final Note
Hopefully you have found these classroom management strategies useful. I know that they have helped my teaching exponentially.
For more advice on how to improve your teaching skills or to help your students with their playing skills, Musician’s Toolkit has video series and courses to help you reach your goals.
Click here to check out Musician’s Toolkit.
Musician’s Toolkit has several series in the “For Teachers” library which contains courses on how to improve your teaching. Included in that library is a video series entitled, “Cornerstones for Successful Teaching” that I invite you to check out.
Lastly, be sure to follow @musicianstoolkit on Instagram and Facebook for exclusive behind the scenes footage from video shoots and other fun content!
Bonus – Downloadable Infographic
Download, print, or save this infographic to make it easy to remind yourself of the classroom management strategies which will aid you in your teaching.
About the Author
Jon Gomez is a National Consultant and Clinician for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education and Music Celebrations International. He also serves as conductor of the East Valley Youth Symphony. Jon is called upon to help students find their passion for music as well as share strategies for servitude leadership and success. He also supports educators with his experience in the profession that spans over thirty years.
Mr. Gomez is the Former Director of Bands and Department Chair for the Performing Arts at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona (2000-2016). In prior years, he served as Director of Bands at Coronado High School and as the District Team Leader for Bands in the Scottsdale Unified School District.
Through the years, his bands have earned respectable accolades and have presented notable performances, including: The World Expo in Shanghai, China, multiple performances at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival, Carnegie Hall, multiple performances at the Arizona Music Educators Conference, and extensive touring throughout Europe.
Jon received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (1987) and Master degree in Education Administration (1993) from Arizona State University. As Co-Founder of Synergy Leadership Endeavors, he helped create and produce the video & CD-ROM entitled, “Leadership Success” published by GIA Publications.
Gomez is associated with the: The Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee, Music For All National Band Festival, Bands of America, Summer Marching Academy, and several State Music Educator Associations. He is a Charter Member of the Kappa Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu (Honorary Band Masters Fraternity). Jon is also the Recipient of the Arizona State University School of Music Alumni Award and the AMEA O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award.
Sources
1 Danielson, Charlotte. The Framework for Teaching: Evaluation Instrument. Danielson Group, 2013.Kellerman, B. (2008). Followership. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business Press.
2 Hendricks, Karin S. Compassionate Music Teaching: A Framework for Motivation and Engagement in the 21st Century. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers , 2018.
3 Connellan, Thomas K. Inside the Magic Kingdom: Seven Keys to Disneys Success. Bard Press, 2008.
4 Dahlgren, Rick, et al. Time to Teach- the Source for Classroom Management. Center for Teaching Effectiveness, 2008.
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One of the biggest questions parents have is: “How can I help my child with their music lessons?” Don’t worry, as a company that markets online music lessons, we get this question a lot. That is why we want to address the topic publicly!
If your child is taking online music courses or meeting an instructor in person, it is important for the parents to know how to work with their child’s instructor. Getting involved as a parent does not mean you have to sit in and participate in every lesson or practice session (although it is not a bad idea every once in a while). On the other side of the relationship, instructors also need to collaborate with the parents just as much as they do with the child. Below, we focus more on what instructors AND parents can do in order to establish meaningful interaction that ultimately benefits the student the most.
Parents to Instructors
Much like the points above for the instructors, parents have similar responsibilities. As the parent of your musical child, you are not required to have music skills but you can help hold your child accountable. Some of the things you can do to coordinate better with the instructor are as follows:
However involved you want to be as a parent, you need to discuss that with the instructor. They need to know how involved you want to be, and then you need to uphold your end of the deal. If you want to participate in practices or lessons, you need to be there, and not be a distraction.
Instructors to Parents
It is absolutely vital for you, the instructor, to personally communicate with your students’ parents. The biggest reason is so that you and the parents are on the same page throughout the music lessons. They need you to tell them how they can help reinforce the principles you’re teaching when they are back at home. Some helpful pointers to get on the same page is as follows:
Whatever you decide to do as an instructor, most importantly, you should communicate with the parents. Find out if they are reminding their child to practice and how committed they are to the lessons. By remaining on the same page, you’ll be assured that the student is being held responsible at home and the results will show.
Parents and Online Music Courses
Online music courses may seem daunting because they lack an instructor in the traditional sense. As a parent, you should be involved in every step of your child’s online music education. You need to hold your child accountable as a normal instructor would. As you start these programs, sit down with your child to see what they would like to accomplish and then set goals with them. Your child needs to feel motivation and encouragement. The remaining points will help you accomplish this:
These lessons are specifically designed to help you work together, but most importantly for your child to succeed in the best way that they can! Help your child put their best foot forward by getting involved in the journey! Whatever your role is in a child’s instrumental progress, be sure to enable solid communication between either the parent or instructor. The results will speak for themselves as you see the child progress significantly.
This blog article was originally posted on the Musicians Toolkit Blog.
]]>Matthew Goodman leads the band at Handley High School, which as has been selected to perform at the 2019 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. But, he says they'll need $80,000 to cover food, hotels, transportation, and educational attractions while they are in town.
"I am striving to provide more resources and opportunities for the students in the rural community of Roanoke," Goodman told AL.com reporter Starr Dunigan. "I believe that music saves lives and that students need to be exposed to various cultures and opportunities outside of their community. Band is the perfect opportunity."
And while Goodman and his band members began fundraising on their own in May by washing cars and selling snacks, Goodman says they've still got much more money to make before they reach their goal. So, he's charting out on a journey of his own, sacrificing his time and his body to help his students.
The 63 members in the Handley Band would get a ton of exposure on the trip, including a performance in the bowl game parade, a Battle of the Bands competition with other high school bands and the game's halftime show.
Goodman says many of his students aren't able to afford the expenditures of the trip on their own, and he doesn't want to leave anyone behind.
"Band is supposed to be inclusive. I didn't want to segregate the band by economic status," Goodman said. "I felt compelled as an educator to find the funds to make this happen."
Goodman and one of his students sat down and did the math. They'd like to raise $182,600 for the band program, hoping that donors would pledge to fund 25 cents for each of the 730,400 steps it'd take Goodman to jog to New Orleans. Goodman says that every dollar will go to the band program.
"We are trying to create sustainability so the program can thrive and survive for years to come -- so it can continue to be a safe space for all students," Goodman said.
Goodman is already out on his run. Those interested can follow his journey on social media by checking the hashtags #GoTheExtraMile4Music and #Miles4Music. The running educator is on-pace to make it to New Orleans on Saturday.
Donors can mail checks to the school at 100 Tiger Circle, Roanoke, AL 36274 or visit Goodman's GoFundMe page. As of Thursday, November 15, the page has raised over $11,500.
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This story is just another reason why we love marching band so much! This article, originally posted here, is another reason to be thankful this holiday season!
"Underneath all of the hatred and animosity and vitriol, this is what a real college football rivalry looks like.
Thursday, one of the six buses carrying members of the University of Washington’s marching band and spirit squad was involved in an accident that resulted in the bus rolling over on its side. Icy road conditions were blamed for an incident that happened roughly halfway between Seattle and Pullman.
While no one was seriously injured, nearly four dozen individuals were transported to local hospitals to be treated for cuts, back pain and other non-critical injuries; two of those remain hospitalized with unspecified injuries.
As a result of the accident, the university announced earlier Friday that the marching band will not continue on to Pullman and will not be in attendance for the Apple Cup rivalry matchup with No. 8 Washington State. In response to that development, the Wazzu marching band took it upon itself to, on very short notice, learn UW’s fight song, which they will play during [their] game!"
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GoFundMe is the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, with over $3 billion raised so far. Signing up is completely free and every donation is yours to keep, whether or not you reach your goal. While it’s free to launch your campaign, fees are deducted from each donation.
Before you get started, here is an overview of what to expect when you start a campaign.
Sharing and Managing Your Campaign
Creating a Campaign Title
Creating a click-worthy campaign title in 30 characters or fewer can seem challenging. Here are 4 tips to help you craft the perfect title:
With these tips, you can create an attention-grabbing title in 30 characters or fewer!
How To Tell Your Story
Here are some tips to help you tell your story so you can be on your way to a successful campaign.
How to tell your story in the campaign description:
Get to the “WHY.” Let your friends and family know why this cause is so important to you.
Tips
Running a GoFundMe campaign takes time, effort, and creativity. While you’ve probably done a great job of sharing your campaign link with your social network, here’s a list of 10 out-of-the-box ways to share your campaign. Remember: the success of your campaign will depend on how effectively you share it.
Creating Your Campaign, and last minute advice:
Best of Luck!
-The MSC Team
Questions? Comments? We’d Love to hear from you! Click here to contact us!
]]>Shipping musical instruments is often difficult because of their weight and fragility. Due to their size and shape, drums are often the most cumbersome instruments to move. When it comes to sending them long distances, it can be even trickier to package them to ensure they won't be damaged. However, that doesn't mean you have to leave your instruments behind every time you move away or spend a summer abroad as part of a percussion ensemble. In fact, even the largest and most inconvenient instruments – including the bass drum – can be shipped safely across long distances without much of a hassle.
Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you're packing your percussion instruments:
Use the right packing materials
Professional musicians often utilize hardened plastic travel boxes to make sure their instruments stay safe throughout the journey. But if you can't afford the top-of-the-line equipment, it's a good idea to make the extra effort to find the right packing materials. Find a box that is large enough to hold your drums and sturdy enough to protect them from their surroundings. Inside the box, take advantage of materials like bubble wrap and packing peanuts to cushion your drums. By the time you are done packing, your drums should be securely positioned in the middle of the box, surrounded snugly on all sides by whatever packing materials you used.
Take apart the whole drum set
If you're shipping a single drum, you can disregard this piece of advice. If, however, you are shipping a drum kit, you should take the time to disassemble the drums piece by piece. Separate the heads, symbols and bass drum at least. Make sure you wrap each individual piece with plenty of packing material. The pieces of your drum kit will move around while they are en route to their destination, but you can limit the damage done by adding a few extra layers of bubble wrap.
Do your best to eliminate extra space
Regardless of what kind of drums you are shipping, it's important to use all of the space inside your shipping container. Doing so is good for a few reasons. For starters, the more space you occupy inside your shipping container, the less your drums will shift around. Secondly, if you don't have to use as many boxes to ship your drums, you'll save on shipping costs. If you pack your drums and there is still plenty of space in the container, don't hesitate to add a few extra handfuls of packing peanuts.
Secure it, tape it and double-check it
Once you have your drums packed up (and there is little to no room leftover anywhere inside your shipping container), it is time to secure them for shipping. To effectively keep the outside of your container closed, you shouldn't need anything more than tape! You don't even need to go out and spend money on specialty shipping tape – just use the duct tape you have laying around already! When it comes to deciding how much tape you need to use, err on the side of caution. Using an entire role of tape is not a big deal if your drums make it to their destination in good condition. Before you let your drums leave your possession, double-check that you've addressed your container properly. The last thing you want is to lose your drums!
The life of Kayla Mulling has already been filled with plenty of adversity. The high school student from Gainesville, Georgia, was born prematurely and without the ability to see. Despite surgery as a baby, Mulling was left blind and fighting to survive. But that did little to deter her from finding one of the most important parts of her life: music.
Even while she was struggling to survive in an incubator as a baby, Kayla's mother, Hope, played music all the time. And according to Atlanta NBC affiliate 11 Alive, that might have been where Kayla's love for music began.
Playing without seeing
From a young age, Kayla learned how to play music without seeing it. She started learning how to play percussion instruments, paying attention to the different kinds of sounds that could be made by striking different instruments. Soon enough, however, Mulling would find that she enjoyed playing the trumpet much more than percussion instruments.
"The flow of the sound, and how the valves work, what you can make it do to sound vibrato," Kayla told 11 Alive about her favorite brass instrument. "It sounds beautiful."
Despite her inability to read music like her classmates, Kayla has found her own way to learn how to play. In fact, according to her high school's band director, Kayla learns how to play music by simply listening to a song a handful of times. After hearing a song once, Kayla will try to play it as best she can. By the third time she plays it, she has the majority of the notes correct and by the fifth, she is playing it with confidence.
From playing to marching
Although Kayla was able to learn how to play songs on her trumpet rather quickly, it was not always easy for her to be a part of the marching band. Learning the marching band music was not a problem, but participating in the field shows was rather tricky. For her freshman year of high school, Kayla played from the sidelines so that she wouldn't collide with her marching bandmates during showtime. But in 2016, thanks to the help of one of her teachers – Keely Zeitlin – Kayla has the opportunity to participate in all of the field shows.
After doing a bit of research and reaching out to other band directors and students, Zeitlin and Kayla perfected a communication system that is mostly non-verbal and helps her navigate the field alongside other students. Zeitlin, dressed in black clothing during performances, shadows Mulling during their shows and helps guide her with a hand on her shoulder or back. Other than an occasional direction whispered in her ear, Kayla doesn't need much guidance.
"Kayla has amazing spacial orientation," Zeitlin told Alive 11. "She can do the fundamentals on her own. She can hit a line every time."
Not the only blind musician
Kayla's story is a tremendous one, but she is not the only visually impaired individual to excel at music. In fact, researchers at the Institute of Education, London, have found that blind children are about 4,000 times more likely to achieve perfect pitch, according to the Guardian. The same study found that more than two-thirds of blind children can play at least one musical instrument. Children without a visual impairment, however, only played instruments about 41 percent of the time. Professor Adam Ockelford, one of the leading researchers, maintained that blind children develop music skills in a different way than most.
"In young babies, the brain is very moldable, synapses grow and connections are made all the time. In blind children, the areas of the brain involved in sight are not being used, but others, including those used for hearing, become much more important," he said. "The greater focus on auditory input makes the brain develop in a different way."
]]>Regardless of how wonderful your current marching band music is, there is nothing like a fresh tune to get a crowd and the judges fired up. This year, give your band a new show and teach them the "A Change of Tone" show from Center X Productions.
"There are practically no limits."
Not only will your band members be happy with the arrangements, but you're sure to take your audience on a musical journey with this cleverly crafted masterpiece by famed composer Tim Hinton. His arrangements are fast paced and ever-changing, making for a veritable "Name That Tune" concept for the marching field. This show takes familiar classical melodies and alters them in tone, so that melodies that are normally heard in a major key are shifted to a minor one and those normally in minor are shifted to major.
There are practically no limits to your guard costumes, flags and props choices! Think exciting, colorful and bold. The music is the storyline so there's no need to worry about voice-overs or heavy-hitting themes. Instead, simply allow the audience – and judges – to immerse themselves in some excellent music.
As with any Center X Productions show, visual concepts can be changed to fit the needs of your group. This show offers many unique musical moments and ideas that would work well with many themes or guard ideas.
Center X Productions' original music compositions for marching bands changes everything with stunning musical phrases, melodies rising from the stadium floor, waves of color and thundering percussion cadences that rock the crowds. Why settle for less? Add the X Factor with Center X Productions' exclusive music arrangements. You won't find them anywhere else! Top it off with Ultimate Regional Protection and your show is guaranteed to be unique at each competition location.
]]>Jeff Chambers' "Ever After" is a musical composition that is timeless yet modern. As a three-movement show, it lends itself beautifully to any narrative that has a beginning, middle and an end. If you're looking for a marching band production that's whimsical in nature and full of moments of tension, give "Ever After" a try. This storybook production will have audience members of all ages feeling like they got the "Happy Ever After" ending they wanted.
"Actors and voice-overs can put your production over the top."
Feel free to give your auxiliary an integral role in your visual presentation. Or you may choose to portray characters from princesses to ordinary people. Unless, of course, one of your characters ends up hiding a secret! You may wish to incorporate other actors to enhance your story, and the addition of voice-overs would put your production over the top! Just don't forget backdrops or props to enhance the storyline and audience members' experiences.
All of the visual concepts of "Happy Ever After" can be revised to fit the specific needs of your marching band. Luckily, the show offers a wide variety of different musical moments and concepts that will work well with any theme or guard ideas you may have.
If you're looking for a real game-changer, end your search with an original music composition from Center X Productions. From musical phases to melodies that seem to rise up from the stadium floor, our music arrangements are sure to entertain audiences of any size. There aren't show concepts like these anywhere else! Plus, with our Ultimate Regional Protection, we guarantee your show will be a unique one in your competition region.
]]>Musical instruments can last for a long time if they are cared for properly. In fact, certain instruments – like violins, cellos and other string instruments – are more valuable when they are older. Musicians prefer them because of their sound; music lovers, because of their craftsmanship. Regardless of which you are, it's worth remembering that proper storage and maintenance of your instrument will preserve its life and sound.
Think about humidity and temperature
It's been said that dampness is the enemy of instruments. From brass to string, instruments can suffer immense damage, usually in the form of rust, due to moist air, Rust is extremely detrimental to instruments because it will cause permanent cosmetic damage and might affect the playability of the instrument. Wind instruments, for example, can be damaged when keys get stuck together as a result of rust, which can, in extreme cases, eat through the instrument.
According to Storage Front, fluctuations in temperature can be responsible for the warping of both brass and wood instruments. In the worst-case scenarios, your instrument will warp so severely that it will actually crack. When it comes to humidity, string instruments are most at risk for issues. You'll probably notice smaller issues such as rusting in the beginning, but if you keep a string instrument in a humid environment for an extended period of time, more severe problems will arise. Guitar necks are likely to be damaged in the humidity, according to Guitar Makers Online. If your guitar neck is warped too much, your instrument will be rendered unsalvageable. It's even more important that you pay attention to how you store your electrical and bass guitars because most of them are made with both metal and wooden elements. Two different materials can pose two different sets of concerns when storing instruments safely.
One of the easiest ways for you to give your instrument an added layer of protection against its surroundings is to simply keep it in its case when you're not using it. A good instrument case will protect your instrument from excessive moisture and heat. If you live in an area that is particularly humid, consider investing in a dehumidifier to keep in the same area as your instrument. Also, avoid leaving it in the car overnight or during a hot day. Stacking items on top of the instrument, even when it's in its case, can seriously affect its sound and performance, too. Always shut your case completely and be sure there aren't any loose objects inside that might scratch the finish or get stuck in your instrument.
Clean your brass
Brass instruments require regular cleaning to keep them looking great. Additionally, it's a good idea to use oil when playing brass instruments to prevent their keys from sticking. According to Music Showcase Online, you should oil all of the keys and valves of your brass instruments at least three times per week. It is also helpful to clean brass instruments thoroughly with warm water and a mild detergent once every three weeks, especially if you play them almost every day.
Advice for guitars (and other string instruments)
Begin by washing your instrument's fret boards and rubbing them with a gentle polish to prevent mildew from growing. Unless you're emotionally attached to the old strings on your guitar, consider swapping them out for newer ones. Old guitar strings will attract rust and mildew, which is easy to spread along the body of your instrument. As far as climate concerns, you can keep your guitars and string instruments in areas where you would feel comfortable yourself. If a room feels hot and humid, look for a cooler one in which to keep your instrument.
Choosing a show for your indoor percussion group isn't as simple as finding a song that you like. If you want your ensemble to be successful, you need to pick a show that fits your musicians. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding the season's music and choreography:
1. Determine skill level
When looking over music options, think about the skills of each musician in your group. You need to select a piece that everyone can handle. If you pick a score that's too difficult for your students to master, then you'll only be creating frustration. Avoid discouraging your musicians by finding a piece that matches the skill level of your ensemble.
2. Keep it engaging
While it's important not to use a musical piece that your group can't handle, you also need to ensure it's not too easy. Challenging your students with a difficult score you know they can handle is an excellent way to keep everyone engaged in practice. In addition, once they master the piece, your musicians will gain a sense of accomplishment, giving them confidence in their abilities and a further dedication to the ensemble.
Another way to select a piece that will captivate your students is to get their input. This doesn't mean you have to use all of their ideas, but gaining a general sense of what your musicians are interested in will help you find music they'll be just as excited about as you are. The students will also appreciate being involved in the decision-making process, so when it comes time to learn the score and choreography, they'll be more likely to begin with enthusiasm.
3. Find inspiration
Compiling a list of performances or styles that inspire you and your ensemble will help narrow your show options. Getting an idea of what your group prefers in a concert is a good starting point. However, don't limit your sources of inspiration solely to show examples. Consider paintings that you enjoy or well-crafted movie scenes as reference ideas. Branching out to other creative fields will allow you to compose a show that is unique to your group, so start studying your creative muses to determine what motivates you in each piece. Try to work some of those elements into your own production.
4. Check the budget
Before you start putting together your show, you need to determine what your group can afford. Hiring staff can be costly depending on the various positions you need to fill. Creativity is key for any indoor percussion show, but if you want to recruit a specific percussion instructor, you may have to forgo the elaborate costumes to pay the person a reasonable stipend.
When going over the budget, consider areas you can cut back to afford the essentials. For example, look into used costumes or consider ways you can make small additions to your current outfits to make them new. Instead of hiring a color-guard instructor, determine whether someone on your staff already has the skills needed. Reviewing the budget and making these cost-saving decisions will allow you to create a successful indoor percussion ensemble.
]]>Indoor percussion ensembles allow students to experience a team environment while helping them grow social, time-management and cooperation skills, among others. Starting one of these groups is an excellent way to keep band members involved in music during the winter months. If your school or area does not have a percussion group, however, your students may feel like they're missing out. With a bit of planning, you can put together your own winter line to give the kids in the community the opportunity to get involved. Here are a few things you need to do to set up an ensemble:
Set a budget
Laying out a budget for your ensemble is one of the first steps you should take when organizing your new band. You might be surprised by how much goes into planning a budget for an ensemble. For example, you'll need to figure out the price of costumes, equipment, travel and contest fees as well as staff expenses. Forgetting to budget for any of these items could result in a serious problem later in the season.
If you've laid out your expense sheet and notice that your school or organization doesn't have the funds to support the ensemble, then start fundraising. Many percussion groups rely on donations to support their efforts. Luckily, creating fun campaigns to raise money is easy for ensembles. Start marketing a battle of the bands-style show or have your group perform for the community. You can charge a small admissions fee or simply ask for freewill donations at the door. By organizing this type of benefit, the students will not only get the chance to obtain the money needed for the budget, but they'll also gain experience performing in front of an audience.
Find a practice space
Another item you may have to add to your budget is practice space. If your school does not have an area large enough to perform in, you could rent out a rehearsal space. The Winter Guard International recommends a room with a minimum floor space of 50 feet by 90 feet. Look into your options and determine which will be the cheapest while also meeting the needs of your percussion group.
"Create an audition process to gauge your team's responsibility."
Hold auditions
Indoor percussion shows take a lot of time and dedication. Your students might be interested in the idea of such a group, but they may not be aware of the commitment it really takes. Create an audition process to gauge your team's responsibility. This doesn't have to be a typical, one-on-one audition. Instead, you can set a few practices and observe how prepared each student is for the rehearsal. For example, if a student shows up on time for each meeting, clearly practices the pieces in between sessions and works hard to master the choreography, you probably have someone you can rely on during the season.
Even after you've gauged everyone's attitude and dedication to the group, make sure you sit down and discuss in detail what is expected. You might not want to scare anyone away, but at the same time, you need your players to recognize that they've signed up for a serious commitment.
Create goals and expectations
It's important to have goals and expectations for your percussion ensemble. However, you need to ensure that they are realistic. Don't choose a performance piece that is outside of your students' capabilities. Working on a piece that is overly difficult will only discourage your group and create frustration. Instead, choose a performance that's challenging but still manageable. It's also a good idea to set mini goals throughout the season. Hitting these checkpoints will make the students feel accomplished while giving them something to work toward each week.
Handling all of the details for an indoor percussion ensemble can be overwhelming. If your community decides this is an activity that would benefit students, make sure you have enough people to manage the team and its needs so you have a successful season.
]]>As you continue to advance in your experience as a part of the marching band, you may find yourself traveling for shows more often than ever before. Traveling with the band can be an excellent way for you to see all kinds of new places throughout the country, and you should embrace it! One of the things that you're going to have to get accustomed to is packing appropriately for each trip.
Follow these five simple tips the next time you're packing for a trip with your marching band mates:
1. Plan it out
Over packing is one of the most common mistakes that travelers of any type make. Luckily, marching band trips are some of the easiest trips to pack for, because you have somewhat of a set schedule. Start by browsing your itinerary for guidance as to what you should bring. Look for various band events, performances and practices that you know you'll have to attend. Then, think about whether you'll have any personal plans, such as working out or sightseeing, that will require a certain type of outfit. That said, try to limit what you bring to the essentials. If shows require you to wear marching band uniforms, make sure the ones you bring are wrinkle-free and ready to go. It never hurts to bring extra uniforms if you have them. You never know when you may have a showtime emergency.
2. Use a duffel bag
One of the best ways to make sure you pack light is to limit the amount of space that you have to put things. Instead of bringing a heavy suitcase, try using a single duffel bag. This tip is even more helpful to those who have to carry around heavy instruments (sousaphone players and bass drummers especially). Packing less clothing items in a small duffel bag makes it easier to lug around heavy instruments and equipment. Most band trips are fairly short in length. That said, you should be able to fit everything you need in one duffel bag, which you can bring on planes as a carry-on item. When putting your clothes inside, do so carefully. Take the extra time to fold everything nicely. The more time you take organizing everything when you pack, the less time you'll spend trying to find things or ironing out wrinkles.
3. Limit the toiletries
"Pack the bare essentials."
You don't have to worry about packing too many toiletries. In fact, you should only pack the bare essentials. Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste, as well as deodorant. The stuff you use in the shower (soap, shampoo and conditioner) will be stocked in your hotel bathroom already, so there's no need to drag yours along for the ride. Leave the beauty masks and eye serums in your bathroom drawer. When you're packing, throw all of your toiletries in a bag so that you know where everything is, and you keep your clothes clean.
4. Don't forget the necessities
With all of the talk about packing lightly, it's worth emphasizing that you need to bring the things that you require. If you're taking a prescription medicine, don't forget to pack enough to get you through the trip. The same goes for contact lenses. It's a good idea to bring your glasses, too, even if you wear contacts. The last thing you want is to have dry or itchy eyes with only contacts as an option – especially when you have to read so much sheet music!
5. Pack at the last minute
This may seem counterintuitive, but packing at the last minute can help you bring only what you need. The less time you spend packing, the less time you have to second guess any of your decisions. Always pack the necessities (see tip No. 4) first, so as not to forget anything important. Throw in your show attire next (that's why you're traveling in the first place), followed by your personal items. Remember, even if you forget small things (like toothpaste, for example) you can pick up travel-size versions in the airport or at the hotel.
Do you ever wonder how we can forget so many little things, but when a certain song starts playing on the radio that we haven't heard in 15 years we still know the tune and lyrics word for word? What about when we can remember how to play a tune on the clarinet or flute from ten or so years ago but can't remember the latest one we tried to learn?
It turns out there is an explanation behind this phenomenon after all. According to researchers at McGill University, the brain's very own motor network helps us to remember music we have performed in the past better than from recently. In the future, this discovery might be able to help other researchers identify how to protect or generally improve the memory of an individual.
"Playing an instrument engages many different parts of the brain.
"The memory benefit that comes from performing a melody rather than just listening to it, or saying a word out loud rather than just hearing or reading it, is known as the 'production effect' on memory," Professor Caroline Palmer, a Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience of Performance, told the McGill Reporter. "Scientists have debated whether the production effect is due to motor memories, such as knowing the feel of a particular sequence of finger movements on piano keys, or simply due to strengthened auditory memories, such as knowing how the melody tones should sound. Our paper provides new evidence that motor memories play a role in improving listeners' recognition of tones they have previously performed."
There's no doubt that playing an instrument engages many different parts of the brain and can have a beneficial impact on cognitive function. With that in mind, why wouldn't you pick up an orchestral instrument and start learning how to play?
A wide array of benefits through music training
Although there have been plenty of correlations between learning how to play a musical instrument and overall intelligence, the specifics have not been explored thoroughly. Lately, however, researchers are beginning to study how playing a musical instrument can help improve spatial learning, language and memory skills, according to The Washington Post.
In fact, a recent study conducted by the Boston Children's Hospital found that musicians are more likely to understand and retain information in high-level cognitive processes. These high-level processes – also called executive choices – are involved with problem solving and making mental adjustments to evolving circumstances. Moreover, these functions are strong factors in how well an individual progresses through the education system. Nadine Gaab, PhD, a researcher involved in the Boston Children's Hospital study, commented in a press release.
"Since executive functioning is a strong predictor of academic achievement, even more than IQ, we think our findings have strong educational implications." she said, "While many schools are cutting music programs and spending more and more time on test preparation, our findings suggest that musical training may actually help to set up children for a better academic future."
Social skills from joining the marching band
In addition to all of the cognitive improvements brought about by learning how to play a musical instrument, there a number of social skills that individuals who are a part of the marching band get to master as well. For starters, the marching band is an excellent extracurricular activity if your hobbies involve music. There are few better ways to hone your music skills than by being a part of the school marching band. Along the same vein, joining the marching band is a great way to meet new people and make new friends as a part of something bigger than yourself. Whether you're a star of the drum line battle or a member of the percussion ensemble, you will learn all about teamwork and the importance of being unselfish in team environments. Remember, there is no "I" in team; there is no "I" in "band" either!
In addition to teamwork, you'll also learn the skills required to improve virtually all skill sets. As a member of the marching band you'll be required to set aside time for band practice and find even more time to practice on your own. At the same time, you'll need to earn good grades in school so that you remain academically eligible for extracurricular activities and avoid getting grounded by your parents. Joining the marching band is a great way find a little balance in your life.
]]>Band directors are often viewed as the leaders of marching bands – and rightly so. During trips with the marching band, you are in charge. This means that you inherit the responsibility of taking care of others on the trip, namely the band members. Here is a quick checklist to help you have a successful trip with your marching band:
1. Account for every band member making the trip
While this tip should be the most obvious, it is worth repeating. As the band director, you are in charge of each and every member of your marching band. That said, it is a good idea to know where everyone is at all times. Depending on the trip, you may have to stay overnight at a hotel or other accommodation. If that's the case, make sure you have travel arrangements worked out to and from the venue at which you'll be performing.
2. Plan practice time for your band
As band director, you surely know how important it is to practice leading up to a big performance. If you and your band are going to be putting on a show at an extra-large venue or in front of a larger-than-normal audience, it's probably not a bad idea to get your band members acclimated to a bigger stage. See if you can find the time to schedule practice for your band at the venue itself. The more accustomed your band members are to the larger stage, the fewer nerves they will have when it comes time to perform.
3. Let your band members experience the cities you are traveling through
So much of the appeal behind trips for the marching band is getting to see so many remarkable places on your travels. Don't deprive the band members of that luxury! Plan on organizing events in the cities you are in with your entire band. If you're putting on a show in Cleveland, for example, consider scheduling a trip for the whole band to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you're performing during halftime at a sporting event, make sure you allow members of the band to watch the first half and the second even after their performance is done! Not only is it a great experience, but you'll also help the team by adding a large number of fans to the stands.
4. Surround yourself with trustworthy chaperones
Although you're the one with the most responsibility on marching band trips, that doesn't mean you have to do everything on your own. Instead, pick out a few teachers or parents to accompany you. Whether you're taking students on a band trip at the junior high or high school level, you're going to be overwhelmed if you're tasked with monitoring the entire band by yourself. Other adults can be incredibly helpful when it comes to policing band members. The more authority figures you have on the trip, the more eyes you will have at your disposal.
5. Use local resources
"Ask the concierge for advice on where to eat."
Don't be afraid to tap into the local resources at your disposal. When it comes to looking for things to do around the local venue or organizing transportation in the area, individuals who live and work in the local area usually know best. If you are staying at a hotel, start by asking the concierge for advice on where to eat, what to see. and how to get along. Most likely, you've been in communication with someone in charge at the venue at which you'll be performing. Pick his or her brain when it comes to fun ways for your band to spend time. Even if you're looking for a pizza joint to take the band, individuals who call that area home will point you in the right direction.
6. Consider a curfew
Depending on your performance and practice schedules, it may be in the best interest of your band to have a curfew. Set a time that members must be in their rooms and hold them to it. You can either call the room or call individual band members to ensure they are where they are supposed to be. It can be helpful to set up a buddy or roommate system. Every band member on the trip should be held accountable by one of his or her peers – not only will behavior improve, but it won't take as much time to track everyone down.
7. Know your band
Since you know most of the members of your marching band already, you probably have a good idea or how much (or little) supervision they will require while on the road. Assess the state of your band and be realistic about expectations. If you have a number of trouble-makers, be sure you set clear ground rules right off the bat. If you need to punish anyone for misbehaving, do it. Setting a standard for good behavior is essential, especially while on the road.
If you're a part of a marching band, you probably find yourself doing a fair amount of traveling. Whether you're headed across the country for competitions or traveling alongside your school's football team, knowing what to pack can be tricky – especially if it is a short trip.
Practicing good hygiene is always a good idea, but bringing every toiletry you own on a trip is impractical – especially with all of the marching band equipment you're responsible for transporting to shows. While you could probably find the toiletries you need on the road, it's always nice to have products you normally use.
Keep these things in mind when gathering toiletries for your next marching band trip:
Pick the essentials
You need to pack the products that will keep you looking your best. Instead of letting the grease build up after a couple days of not washing your hair, bring along shampoo and conditioner. If you normally put some sort of product in your hair after bathing (pomade, gel or spray, for instance), don't forget it either. Even if your marching band uniform requires you to wear a hat, that's not a valid excuse to leave toiletries for hair care behind.
Remember a toothbrush and toothpaste. If you want to practice even better oral hygiene, be sure to bring along floss. Guys, it's a good idea to bring a razor and shaving cream. A little stubble is OK for a day or two on vacation, but there's no need to let it turn into a beard that reminds people of Tom Hanks in "Cast Away." If you shave with an electric razor, try to remember to pack extra batteries, too. If you're headed to a place with colder weather than you're used to, it's a good idea to protect your skin from the harsh environment. Moisturizing your skin with lotion will help keep it from getting dry or chapped. If the marching band production is outside (like a halftime show at a football game), remember to bring sunscreen!
Smelling nice is easy to accomplish. Simply pack deodorant and apply it daily. If you want to smell even better, think about packing cologne or perfume.
Make the most of your space
Packing so many items in your luggage can be tricky, especially if you're already responsible for instruments and marching band accessories. The Transportation Security Administration limits passengers to a quart-size bag of liquid toiletries, and each item cannot exceed 3.4 ounces. If there's a large amount of a particular toiletry that you can't live without on vacation, you can put it in a checked bag as long as you protect it from spilling or exploding during travel. Do so by stowing it away from formal clothing and even by sealing it in a plastic bag. One of the best ways to pack your toiletries is in a Dopp kit. Your Dopp kit should be small enough to fit in your luggage but large enough to stow the toiletries that you need. Make sure that you close it completely before placing it in a suitcase, however.
If you really want to save space, look into the 2-in-1 shampoo-plus-conditioner options at your local pharmacy or convenience store. Try to find items that may be even more beneficial on your trip, like dry shampoo or SPF lip balm. Given the rigorous schedule you're likely to face between practices and performances, toiletries that you can use on the go may be even more beneficial.
]]>Since 1936, the Associated Press has ranked college football programs across the country. Recently, the AP released a list of the top 25 teams over the last 80 years. Analysts created the list by taking into account the number of times a team made the weekly top-25 AP poll as well as the amount of No. 1 rankings and AP Championships. Around the same time, USA Today compiled a list of the 10 best bands in college football.
Although some college football fans may want to make for the restrooms or concession stands during halftime, it's often a good idea to remain in your seat for the show. In fact, some of the best college football programs feature the best marching bands at halftime. Here are eight universities with dominant football teams and talented marching bands:
1. USC
Although Los Angeles doesn't always have an NFL team, football has always had a home at the University of Southern California. The Coliseum in downtown L.A. has been the home stadium of both tremendous football teams and outstanding marching bands. The Trojans have won AP Championships 5 times already, and the program has been one of the best in recent years. During Pete Carroll's time as head coach, the team earned the No. 1 ranking 42 times. Known as the Spirit of Troy, the marching band is no slouch either. It has performed in films and with rock bands, and has even been featured along actor and comedian, Will Ferrell.
2. Ohio State University
"OSU's marching band dots the 'i' in Ohio."
As Buckeye fans will be the first to tell you, there is a reason that the school is known as "The Ohio State University." In addition to a football program that has earned the No. 1 spot in the AP's top-25 of all time poll, the university boasts one of best bands in college football. Over the years, different band members have performed choreography where "Ohio" is spelled out in script and OSU's marching band dots the "i" in Ohio. In 2011, they put on a show called "The Best Damn Band in the Land's Michael Jackson" halftime tribute. Since then, the video has been viewed on YouTube more than 11 million times.
3. Penn State
Despite all of the recent controversy at Penn State University, Happy Valley is home to a top football program as well as an outstanding band. Although the marching band was formed back in 1899, the "Blue Band" wasn't always completely blue. According to the university, most of the band members actually wore brown marching band uniforms. The blue uniforms were reserved for the members of the traveling marching band.
4. Michigan
When head coach Bo Schembechler was at the helm of the Wolverines' program in the 1970s, the team was the the first to make the AP poll for an entire decade. In recent years, the University of Michigan has accounted for plenty of NFL prospects as well. While there are many ex-Michigan football players on NFL rosters, the university is home to one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history – Tom Brady. In a 2014 show known as "PixMob," the Michigan band used LED lights to create visually captivating special effects.
5. Alabama
If you've been paying attention to college football in recent years, you have probably noticed that head coach Nick Saban has helped the University of Alabama become a dominant power in college football again. Although Heisman trophy winners and national championships have resided at Alabama lately, this is nothing new for the Tide. Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant is considered by some to be the best college football coach in history. The band, known as the "Million Dollar Band," earned its nickname after suffering a loss to Georgia Tech, according to the University of Alabama.
6. Texas
Natives of the Lone Star State will be the first to tell you that everything is bigger in the Texas. That holds true for both the University football team and the marching band. While the Longhorn football team was making more than 99 percent of AP college football polls in the 2000s, the marching band was busy playing in Super Bowl shows and at former President George W. Bush's Inaugural parade. Even if marching band members aren't on the field during gameplay, they still do their part to help the team. According to the University, the band hits cowbells during the game to distract opponents.
7. Texas A & M
USA Today's rankings of the best bands in college football awarded the top spot to Texas A & M. With over 300 members in its marching band, Texas A & M provides people in the audience with a one-of-a-kind show. The choreography features military formations and movements ranging from parade flag routines to a drumline battle of epic proportions.
8. University of Tennessee
Just as Peyton Manning was one of the greatest leaders on the field for Tennessee, they had a great leader of the halftime shows. The late W. J. Julian was considered a top-tier marching band director. Starting from when he took over as head of the University of Tennessee's marching band in 1961, Julian transformed it into the Pride of the Southland. Although it has long been a popular song in the Volunteer State, the marching band helped "Rocky Top" become somewhat of an anthem for the university,
It's getting to that time of year when most band directors have selected shows for the upcoming season and are crafting a rehearsal schedule to help their band master it. If you're lagging a little behind, don't worry. With these four essential steps in selecting a show, you can still find killer arrangements and choreography to have your band wow crowds and judges alike:
1. Know your band's identity
Every band has its own unique identity, whether that comes from a certain style or the school or town you play for. When choosing your show, don't ignore this aspect of your band. Creating a cohesive personality helps your group become more memorable, which can be a huge plus in competition.
2. Understand what skills need improving
Don't forget that you'll also need to think about how this show will help your band work on certain skills. Performing a show should be an educational experience as much as a competitive one, so make sure the arrangements you're considering offer your musicians the chance to learn something new or improve a skill they already know. Don't get too ambitious though – you should only introduce new concepts when your band is ready for it, and when it fits your rehearsal schedule.
3. Choose an appropriate theme
Finding a show doesn't have to be too complicated. In fact, it can be relatively simple if you have a theme in mind. Starting with a concept, especially a broad one, can help you come up with ideas for connecting visuals and sounds and creating an experience for your audience.
A little extra brainstorming can cut down on the amount of time you'll spend sifting through shows and help you get to the right production sooner. Additionally, you can ensure that your ideas are appropriate not only for your band, but also for the people they'll be playing for, like your hometown or for judges at competition.
4. Fit your budget
Finally, keep your budget in mind. Having financial restrictions doesn't always mean that you can't get the best show for your band. There are plenty of ways to make the show of your dreams an affordable reality for you. A little research on that end goes a long way!
For more tips and techniques as well as stunning custom designed or complete field shows by some of the best drill writers, arrangers and choreographers, contact Marching Show Concepts today! We still have an incredible selection of last-minute shows available.
]]>We've previously discussed the importance of providing supportive and comfortable shoes to help your marching band succeed. As a band director, you're often choosing these essential accessories or advising your musicians to make that selection themselves. Do you know how to identify a good pair of shoes for your band or help others do the same? Here are a few tips:
1. They fit well
If you're advising your musicians on finding the right pair of shoes, stress the fact that they need to try them on and make sure they fit perfectly before buying. Ill-fitting shoes can cause blisters and other types of discomfort that will prevent them from performing their best.
2. They're designed for walking
If you're thinking about it in terms of shoes, marching routines are just long walks, so your footwear should be designed for that need, as Aaron Lindstrom, a trombone player in the University of Montana Marching Band, told Halftime Magazine.
"[You need] something you can make sure you can walk in for up to seven miles," Lindstrom explained. "Basically, something that will accommodate you for a long walk."
3. They're good quality
Shoes are so important to marching that it's one of the few things you never want to cut corners on in your budget. When in doubt, look for the best quality shoes. There are plenty made specifically for marching bands that can make your decision much simpler.
For a selection of quality marching band accessories, as well as stunning custom designed or complete field shows by some of the best drill writers, arrangers and choreographers, contact Marching Show Concepts today! We still have an incredible selection of last-minute shows available.
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