Four Ideas for End-Of-Year Activities with Ensemble Classes (2022 edition)
For many music teachers, this was the first school year since 2019 that ended with a "normal" concert season. And, it might be the first time in a while that you've scratched your head and thought, "What do we do now?" Concerts have ended. Competitions are over. [...]
Research to Practice: Pivoting from the Status Quo
Conducting research often can seem like falling down a rabbit hole. One study answers initial questions, the analysis and implications lead to more questions…lather, rinse, and repeat for forever. This research is the embodiment of using one research study as the basis for another. [...]
Musicast Episode 8: The Liberty High School Bagpipe Corps – Student Leadership on an International Stage
The Musicast duo is joined by Liberty High School band director and his bagpipe corps student leaders for a conversation about bagpipes, leadership, and the meaning of a music program to the community. [...]
Musicast Episode 7: Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser- Chicken Soup for the Music Teacher Soul
Dr. Tim Lautzenhesier drops by to talk about motivation, inspiration, and keeping music alive and well in our schools during tough times. If you need a boost in your teacher morale, this one is for you! [...]
Musicast Episode 6: A Nod to Marching Bands, Part 2 with Aaron Dugger- Balancing Process and Product
High school band director Aaron Dugger returns to the podcast to discuss process and product in secondary marching bands. in the Texas UIL system, it can feel like your teaching to a test but Aaron offers productive insight as to how to take the system and make it work for students and programs of all kinds. [...]
Musicast Episode 5: Young Band Directors Panel- Finding and Remembering Your “Why”
\A panel of high school band directors who have been teaching for 6 years or less come together to discuss the good, the bad, and the inspirational parts of being a band director. The discussion includes topics about leadership, COVID era teaching, and finding and remembering why they became music teachers. This episode will feed your soul! [...]
Research to Practice: Using Data for More than Just Grades
I used to think that research was complicated and couldn’t help me in my classroom. I used to see the Music Educators Journal arrive in my mailbox, flip through, sigh, think to myself – “If I only had time….,” and then add the issue to a growing pile on my dining room table. [...]
Teaching Music Online: Strategies and Resources
(Note: this post will continue to be updated with resources as they come in) As I write this post, I am looking at a dozens of text messages from other teachers in my school district. We just received news that we would be closed for at least [...]