Curated from KHS Academic Alliance – by Peter Boonshaft – Many years ago, the legendary W. Francis McBeth wrote an article entitled, “It’s A Hard Life” that sticks (pun intended, as you’ll see!) with me every time I rehearse an ensemble. The essence of this article was his opinion that all too often percussionists are told by their conductors to…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Katheryn Drury Wagner – Writers are famously good at procrastinating. Just how good? While working on this article, I found myself shopping for a dog bandanna … and I don’t have a dog. Many creative and artistic personality types, including music educators, struggle with procrastination, which affects up to 20% of adults. Interestingly, some parts…
MORECurated from “The Boonshaft Blog” – by Peter Boonshaft – In my previous blog, I mentioned how our intense concentration, or worrying about a problem, in rehearsals often causes us to forget about using what can be our most powerful means of communicating, our face. One need only watch the famed video of the legendary Leonard Bernstein conducting Haydn’s Symphony…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by YAMAHA Staff – “40 UNDER 40” EDUCATORS OFFER USEFUL TIPS TO NEW MUSIC TEACHERS TO HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR STRESSFUL FIRST YEAR. Starting your career as a music educator is an exciting time! Who better to offer some words of wisdom than the Yamaha “40 Under 40” music educators for 2023? Below are 122 tips…
MOREMike Parkinson is a Nottelmann Music Jazz Clinician, KHS America Education Artist, and XO Professional Brass Artist – For the school band director, an annual challenge and opportunity is selecting worthy jazz ensemble literature for students to perform. As an educator I have gained from the recommendations of others, the research I completed, and most importantly from listening to great bands in…
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