Curated from YAMAHA – by Tyler Swick – TIRED OF SELLING COOKIE DOUGH, WRAPPING PAPER OR COUPON BOOKS? HERE ARE SOME UNCONVENTIONAL WAYS TO FUNDRAISE WITHOUT SELLING ANYTHING. Chances are high that either as a student or teacher, you’ve attempted to sell cookie dough, chocolate, wrapping paper, popcorn or coupon books in order to raise funds for your music program….
MORENottelmann Music is always happy support music in our area schools, so here’s a calendar of Greater St. Louis Area high school marching band competitions listed at Midwest Marching. Click on the link for more info on each event. Also, find a link to a printable copy at the bottom of this posting. 8-26 Timberland Marching Percussion Competition – Timberland…
MOREAlthough Nottelmann Music receives no compensation for this post, we thought it was important for our music educator friends to know about this. Those legendary tracks that have helped thousands of musicians to learn jazz is now available as JAZZBOOKS STREAMING. Affordable access to arguably the worlds best jazz play-alongs. “Anything Abersold Anywhere.” Check it out!
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Jarrett Lipman – KIDS ARE EXCITED TO SEE TEACHERS WHO ARE EXCITED TO SEE THEM, SO BRING YOUR A-GAME EVERY DAY. Students look forward to learning from teachers who are excited to teach them. When your students come to your class, your body language and interaction set the tone for the rehearsal. Are you starting…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Jarrett Lipman – WORK WITH AND UTILIZE PARENTS TO HELP YOUR PROGRAM SUCCEED. BRING THEM INTO THE FOLD, GIVE THEM OWNERSHIP AND ALLOW RELATIONSHIPS TO THRIVE. As a drum major at the Crossmen, I remember talking to Fred Morrison about the nuts and bolts of running the organization. He was in his first year as…
MORETHE CELEBRATION This year, Nottelmann Music Company is celebrating its 70th Anniversary – 1953-2023. That’s 70 years of serving schools, students, music directors, and musicians with top-quality products and service. We’re celebrating by giving back to St. Louis music education community. THE CAUSE On October 24, 2022, a mass shooting occurred at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Steve Graves – THINK OF WHAT YOUR STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO KNOW AT THE START OF THEIR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THEN PLAN BACKWARD AND SET GOALS AND MILESTONES TO ENSURE THAT THEY MAKE PROPER PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THIS ACADEMIC YEAR. How can music educators guarantee that musical growth and learning really takes place in their…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Aleah Fitzwater – DO YOU NEED TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR INCOME OR AN OUTLET FOR YOUR CREATIVITY? CONSIDER TRYING ONE OF THESE SIDE GIGS! Teaching music is extremely gratifying; but sometimes, unexpected circumstances arise, and we need to supplement our income. If you’re looking for relevant side hustles or summer gigs, consider the following list of…
MORECurated from JW Pepper – Richard Saucedo interview with Scott McCormick – Intro: 0:00 What goes into designing a competitive marching band show in 2023? – 00:30 If you do go competitive, what are your goals? – 1:56 What does a design team look like? – 4:56 When does the process of creating the show begin? – 6:57 What should you consider when…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Dr. Justin Antos YOUR BAND’S BRAND SHOULD TRANSCEND THE WALLS OF YOUR MUSIC CLASSROOM AND LET THE GREATER COMMUNITY IN ON THE MAGIC YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS CREATE ON A DAILY BASIS. Many professionals in the business world would agree that a company’s logo is one of the most important facets of its brand. Not…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Greg White – GOOD SHOW DESIGN IS AN ASSET TO ANY BAND PROGRAM. DON’T GET LOST IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. FOCUS ON DELIVERING A POSITIVE AND LIFE-CHANGING MARCHING ARTS EXPERIENCE TO YOUR STUDENTS! When designing a marching band show, there are countless choices that a director must make. From the big picture to the…
MOREWatch the Webinar Preview About this Webinar – How important is it to building a quality marching band to have an outstanding drum line and front ensemble? In this webinar, presenters David England and Shelby Shelton take you step by step process to develop those all-important sections. Covered in the Marching Percussion Playbook: Personnel and Roles Building a Foundation…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – By Dr. Dave Gehart – BE A BETTER PERCUSSIONIST BY REGULARLY WORKING ON YOUR READING, ROLLS AND LISTENING SKILLS. As a percussionist, there are three things that we should always work on — reading, rolls and ear/listening. I know it is naive to believe that these are the only things to work on, but if you can continue…
MORECurated from J.W. Pepper – The Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band is widely recognized as one of the best high school marching bands in the United States, and the Fishers Winter Percussion ensemble are three-time Winter Guard International (WGI) Scholastic Concert World Percussion champions. J.W. Pepper’s creative team visited Fishers, Indiana to spend time with the band and get…
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…
MOREBy Ray Benton, Nottelmann Music Co. – Well, this one will certainly cause some controversy! But band directors, I ask that you be open minded and hear me out. In my eleven years at Rockwood South Middle School, we found tremendous success with a different approach to teaching saxophone. Here are THE BENEFITS, THE PROCESS, and THE RESULTS. THE BENEFITS…
MOREAn important, free resource curated from PAS.org – complete with individual audio recordings of the 40 Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments. Download the free PDF copy or read the notated rudiments below. The list consists of the traditional 26 rudiments along with a number of drum corps, orchestral, European, and contemporary drum rudiments. This listing was an outgrowth of…
MOREAnn Goodwin Clark, Co-Historian for Missouri Bandmasters, had the vision to record interviews with Missouri master teachers in music education. Ann reached out to me and asked for my assistance in producing and posting these timeless videos. Below is the current library, with more additions planned for the future. I believe EVERY music educator will benefit from the wisdom brought…
MOREA warehouse of tips for you and your students. 5 top musicians present tips on 5 rhythm section instruments. Check out the previews, view the full webinars below. PIANO GUITAR DRUMS BASS LATIN PERCUSSION VIEW THE FULL WEBINARS FOR FREE
MORELearn about this incredible story of marching arts innovation. Listen to this short interview with the father of the “Front Ensemble.” – Curated from The Namm Foundation’s Talking Up Music Education – Talking Up Music Education is a podcast from The NAMM Foundation that shares news and stories about music education. Download and listen to episode 81 featuring guest Bob…
MORECurated from Smartmusic’s Music Educator Blog – Want to improve student performances in your large ensembles? Get them playing in chamber groups, too. Not only does performing chamber music offer a wonderful way to develop listening and cooperation skills, it also makes it impossible for that gifted but lazy student to “follow” the other members of their section. Suddenly, if…
MOREA short, heart-warming, inspirational video. An answer to “Why Music?” Don’t miss this! Shared at The Nottelmann Blog! Are you a Mr. Jensen? Had your life affected by a Mr. Jensen? Want to be a Mr. Jensen? SHARE ON THIS POST!
MORECurated from JW Pepper’s CUED IN – Picture a successful band, orchestra, or choir rehearsal. Students have their instruments and music at the ready and are focused on the conductor. They respond quickly to instructions and are prepared for each cue. When it’s time to go to their next class, they put materials away in designated areas, keeping the space…
MORECurated from The YAMAHA Educator Suite – by Christine Ngeo Katzman – Every music program has the challenge of logistics regarding storage and scheduling. Here’s how one program met that challenge. When Vincent Vicchiariello began his transition to Director of Bands at Nutley High School in New Jersey in 2018, the program boomed. “We had our biggest [group] of 95 students in our marching…
MOREDr. Tim Lautzenhauser – Conn Selmer Division of Education – Conn-Selmer’s VP of Education, Tim Lautzenheiser, discusses the different levels of group motivation. View this short but important video for valuable insights for any music program. Tim Lautzenheiser is a widely-recognized voice advocating the importance of music education for every child. Over the last three decades, countless students have experienced…
MOREDr. Tim Lautzenhauser – Conn Selmer Division of Education – In the world of developing leadership in music programs, it doesn’t get any better than the tips from Conn-Selmer’s VP of Education, Tim Lautzenheiser. View this video as Dr. Tim discusses the Five Laws of Servitude Leadership. Tim Lautzenheiser is a widely-recognized voice advocating the importance of music education for every…
MORETHIS IS THE DEFINITIVE POSTING ON THE HARMONY DIRECTOR! Find out why Dr. John Zastoupil, Director of Concert Bands at Missouri State, describes the Yamaha Harmony Director as “the most important piece of equipment you can own!” View this EXCLUSIVE Podcast-Plus that takes your right into the Missouri State rehearsal room as John demonstrates how the HD works and how…
MORECurated from the YAMAHA Educator Suite – by Jarrett Lipman – MUSIC EDUCATORS MUST CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS MOVE FROM THINKING THEY COULD BE GREAT TO KNOWING THEY COULD. Students who believe in their ability to perform at a high level are more likely to achieve remarkable things. When students see results as a performer, they develop trust in their instructors….
MORECurated from The YAMAHA Educator Suite – by Jarrett Lipman – How can you make band a place that everyone enjoys? From student musicians who want to be the very best in the all-state contest, to those who are more casual and never practice outside of class, to athletes who want to participate in band, to students who want to…
MORECurated from the YAMAHA Educator Suite -by Don Stinson – Time is a precious commodity. As music teachers, we not only have to protect classroom time, but we have to carve out a few minutes (or hours!) here and there to take care of our must-do, non-negotiable tasks. In order to be as productive as possible, you must be mindful…
MORECurated from SBO Magazine – by Harvey Rachlin – We all have had teachers we remember because they had an impact on us in some wonderful way in school. Perhaps it was a music teacher or conductor who nourished our love of music and was partly responsible for our pursuing a career in music. What teacher today (or at any time)…
MORECurated from The Yamaha Educator Suite – by Dr. Paul Buyer – Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a time when you were conducting on the podium and cued a much anticipated, exposed and important snare drum roll. What did it sound like? Perhaps it was smooth, expressive and confident — maybe the result of assigning your best snare drummer…
MORECurated from The Alfred Blog – by Scott Watson – Every single moment with our students is precious! Whether it’s a lesson, sectional, ensemble rehearsal, there’s always so much to accomplish and no time to waste. Nonetheless, it’s worth taking the time to establish the habit of warming up at the start of all our meetings with students. Primarily, warming…
MORECurated from Band Directors Talk Shop – Tips for Building Community & Growing Relationships with Band Parents – Readers’ Collaborative Post In our recent survey, we asked Band Directors Talk Shop readers, “How do you build community with your band parents? How do you keep open lines of communication and grow strong relationships with parents?” With hundreds of responses to the survey, we came…
MORECurated from AMP, the Association of Music Parents – by Kathleen Heuer – My name is Penny Ray, and I’m a music parent. My husband and I have three teenagers: a sophomore who plays mellophone in her public high school marching band and French horn in the Wind Ensemble at school; an 8th grader who plays trumpet in the local homeschool…
MOREDirectors – share this video with your parents. Parents – not sure about whether you should put your child in marching band? In this 6-minute video you’ll hear from parents just like you who explain the ways that marching band has had a positive impact on their kids. Marching band will not only help your child become a better musician,…
MORECurated from the Yamaha Educator Suite – by Elizabeth Geli – With so many superhero movies hitting the theaters, it’s ironic to hear ensemble directors tell their students, “Don’t be a hero,” when someone is sticking out in the overall sound. Because of the brass instruments’ powerful directional abilities, blending the sound and dynamics of an ensemble can sometimes seem…
MORECurated from the Yamaha Educator Suite – In less than three weeks, the Ralls County R-II School District in Center, Missouri, more than doubled its beginning band program. Before Director of Bands Douglas Schaffer, a 2021 Yamaha 40 Under 40 music educator, joined the district in 2019, only 24% of 6th graders signed up for band at Ralls County Elementary. Though they were required to participate…
MORECurated from the Yamaha Educator Suite – by Cody Newman – Our students are only limited by the constraints we place on them, so let’s all choose opportunity and choose to excel! Here’s my story – On a muggy Texas evening in May 2020 during the height of the pandemic, I sat in the Diffee family’s driveway out in the…
MORETime to “pick the brain” of Yamaha Master Educator and Director of the Marching Illini Barry Houser, originally presented to the Carthage Missouri Band Staff. This free, view anytime webinar is on: Drum Majors Student Leaders Student Motivation and Attitude Show Music Selection Show Drill Design Teaching Drill Going Digital Online Tools Tips and Tricks Optional one-hour PD credit…
MOREYour ONE-TIME registration takes less than a minute. Already registered? Access all of our webinars now. CLICK TO REVIEW THIS VIDEO PREVIEW Welcome music educators! In keeping Nottelmann Music’s 65-year-plus tradition of supporting music educators, we offer these pages to support your everyday teaching. Nottelmann Professional Development is here to instruct and provide you with OPTIONAL professional development credit, absolutely free…
MORECurated from WorldStrides – Summer is a time for teachers to relax – and to reflect on the previous year. How successful was your year? We know music directors are always looking for ways to encourage their programs to thrive. With that in mind, we asked accomplished WorldStrides OnStage music directors with experiences ranging from starting from scratch to taking over an…
MORECurated from Bandworld – by Russell G. McCutcheon – Managing the percussion inventory Every conductor has experienced it: rehearsal is progressing smoothly, then the triangle part is missing. “Who is playing the triangle?” “Umm…we didn’t know we needed it.” Or “We can’t find it,” your percussionists reply. There are three keys to solving this dilemma: Students must be able to…
MORECurated from Bandworld – Setting up the percussion section Every conductor has experienced it: rehearsal is progressing smoothly, then the triangle part is missing. “Who is playing the triangle?” “Umm…we didn’t know we needed it.” Or “We can’t find it,” your percussionists reply. There are three keys to solving this dilemma: Students must be able to quickly and easily locate…
MORECurated from Rocky Point Productions – What does an experienced band director wish he had known going into his first year? Here’s the account from one person, things to consider for the brand new or future band director. My name is Rocky Ankeny and I am the Assistant Director of Bands at Panther Creek High School. I marched Cadets in…
MORECurated from D’Addario – By Andrea Harrell – Parents of beginning band students often ask me how they can help their kids with practicing their new instrument. While many parents don’t hesitate to step in and help their kids with subjects like math or English, I have spoken to many parents who feel uncomfortable stepping in to help their kids…
MORECurated from Band Directors Talk Shop – “Spend time now to save time later” is a great quote, especially when it comes to teaching embouchure to beginning band students. Preventing bad habits early is key to a successful start on any instrument. Following is a list of 6 practical tips for teaching embouchure efficiently and effectively from day one. 1.)…
MOREWith budgetary assistance from Joe Pappas and the Jeffco Viking Band Camp, Jefferson College’s music department was looking for a great sounding and versatile sound systems for the band and choir rehearsal rooms. They wanted portability, great sound, and high quality recording capability. Joel Vanderheyden contacted me with specific criteria in mind and I set out to design a system…
MORECurated from ChoralNet.org by Developing Voices Author Jennifer Berroth, Choral Director at Leawood Middle School, Leawood, Kansas. I’ve heard it said that teaching middle school puts one at the front of the line for sainthood. We’ve all had days on which we have earned that status. I have been teaching middle school choir for seven years, and in that time I have…
MORECurated from 4themusiceducator.com – by Bill Stevens – Musicians who require the use of their air to perform will benefit from “Starting Breathing Exercises to Encourage Air Capacity Growth.” Whether you are a brass, woodwind or even a vocalist musician, breathing, and effective airflow, is an absolute necessity to perform. In addition, increasing your knowledgebase is a great way to…
MORECurated from The Yamaha Educator Suite – by Savy Leiser – Cle Elum, Washington, is a small town with a population of about 2,000 and a school district serving approximately 900 students in K-12 — but that doesn’t stop the power of music flowing through it. If anything, the town’s size has helped people form closer connections through music. “Our…
MOREHere’s advice for new high school band parents, an account of a band parent looking back over that first year. With the school year coming to an end, I find myself taking a step back and reflecting on what I learned as a first-year band parent. Having no experience with high school band prior to this, I was basically a…
MORECurated from Band Director.com – by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – With the beat of a drum, the blow of a whistle, and the blare of the brass section, marching bands across the country are practicing formations and new musical routines in anticipation of the start of school year. Recognizing the unique needs of these performers, the National…
MOREThis article is curated from Mustech.net. Author Joseph M. Pisano, Ph.D. is the creator of many education websites, a lecturer, clinician, trumpeter, and conductor. Most people don’t think about it; but, if you happen to be a marching band director you KNOW it -successful marching band directors have the same skill sets as successful Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). CEOs must be…
MOREIn this one post, you can view three different levels of incredible marching band speakers from Presonus, at three different price levels. Add mics and a mixer and you’re good to go. Nottelmann Music has provided all levels of these speakers to music programs, with excellent results. The CDL Series – The ULT Series – The Air Series. For more info, CONTACT…
MOREBy Ray Benton, Technology and Media Specialist, Nottelmann Music – Whether your marching band competes or just plays halftime shows, Nottelmann’s is where you go for a new sound system OR an upgrade to your existing system. Each band has it’s own needs and budget, so we offer a CUSTOM solution that includes on-site training and support at no extra…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Johanna M. Kitchell – RECRUITMENT IS A BIG PART OF ENSEMBLE DIRECTORS’ JOBS. DON’T LOOK AT IT AS A BURDEN, BUT RATHER AS A WAY OF TURNING POTENTIAL STUDENTS INTO “OUR KIDS.” The summer before I started 4th grade, I attended a week-long instrument camp, where we spent an hour each day learning about and…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Matt Kerns – STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY OIL PISTON VALVES TO SOLVE STICKY VALVE PROBLEMS. It’s the night of the beginning band concert, and the curtain will go up soon. You’re back stage shepherding all of your students, who are bubbling with nervous excitement, to their chairs. Then, from the rear of the…
MORECurated from YAMAHA – by Austin Snowden – THERE ARE LOTS OF SIMILARITIES, BUT THEY ARE FAR FROM THE SAME. Early versions of the saxophone first appeared in 1840, followed by a number of variations. However, it wasn’t until the 1930s that the world saw what is now considered the modern saxophone. Advances in digital technology have allowed Yamaha to…
MORECurated 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 YAMAHA – by Jayme K. Hayes – ACCEPTING FAILURE IS CRUCIAL TO HELPING STUDENTS BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS WHO ARE SELF-MOTIVATED TO SUCCEED. We all fear the horrible F word — failure. Who wants to fail at something? How often do people purposefully put effort into failing? It is something we avoid at all costs, are ashamed of, or…
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…
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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