Kjos Education Center

As the name implies, recruiting students for a band program is a continual process where, every year, students are encouraged to begin or continue their music-making. An effective, "ongoing" recruitment program not only brings new students into the band program, but also has high visibility, good communication, and a curriculum with activities that are designed to provide new and exciting learning experiences that will help retain students.

Each year band directors are faced with the challenge of recruiting students into their ensembles. This recruiting should not be only for new members, but wise directors understand the importance of "recruiting" existing members into their ensembles for the following school year. The Gemeinhardt, Inc. Company has researched why or why not students participate, stay in, or drop out of the band programs. While there are many reasons, those that can be affected by the band director can be grouped into four categories...

Ready, Set, Fall

Fall marks the end of summer marching season, the beginning of fall marching season, jazz ensemble, beginning band for some, plus a myriad of small ensembles to coach and the beginning of developing that special concert band "sound," not to mention all of the administrative adventures that go with it. Suffering with tyranny of the urgent yet? All of this preparation work is quadrupled if the students do not have the word "practice" etched in their minds as a daily function. What would it be like to spend most of the rehearsal period working on musical ideas versus rote teaching of notes and rhythms? When the paradigm of your students' role in band includes daily practice at home, the band director's ability to produce a creative musical environment becomes a reality. "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and feed him for a lifetime." If we can help our students find their love of music by giving them the tools to create it, the search for successful musicianship will be a self-fulfilling journey.

After hearing my presentation about teaching improvisation, a colleague suggested I consider “less cheerleading and more content.” Her wise comment helped me realize as an advocate for musical creativity, that half of my job is to encourage (okay, prod) the uninitiated to “dive in” by closing the music books now and then. The other half is to offer practical teaching tips to those who have already taken the “off page” plunge.

Characteristic tone, articulation, intonation, precision, andb alancea re fundamental qualities that are evident in all great musical performances. As band directors, our goal is to develop a teaching method that advances our students' understanding, awareness, and performance skills in regards to these five fundamental goals.

Go! You're off for the start of another school year. Some have likened a school year to a race - not a sprint, but a marathon. While it's important to start well, it's more important to finish well. Those in a race receive their reward at the end of the race, not at the beginning.

The warm-up is often regarded as a critical part of the concert band rehearsal. It is a time for students to focus on the basics of breathing, sound production, intonation, and instrumental technique. If individual students have good control over these elements, the large ensemble will of course have more success. Warming up in the jazz ensemble, however, is not regarded quite as reverently in spite of the obvious benefits. This column will offer some suggestions for making this part of the jazz ensemble rehearsal efficient and productive.

The trees are turning and the days are getting shorter, so it must be time to get back up on the podium for the start of another school year. For many, it seems as though it was just yesterday that we said goodbye to last year's graduating class. No doubt this school year will bring with it questions, dreams, and hopes. Keep in mind and put into practice these helpful tips regarding People and Perspective to make this school year THE BEST EVER!

Jeanine Yeager is one of my favorite composers of piano teaching pieces. I first became acquainted with Jeanine’s music via her Fresh Impressions series, which I discovered when looking for “New Age” student repertoire. Jeanine was kind enough to take time away from composing and preparing her latest book for publication to discuss her music and thoughts about teaching music composition to adult piano students.

The new year—whether a new calendar year or the start of a new school year—is always a great opportunity to think about doing things differently. Doing things better! Students, families, administrators, colleagues. No one thinks twice about committing to new routines, new strategies, or new resources in a new year. This is our annual chance to start fresh!