Many students participate in performing ensembles, but few of them will have careers as musicians. As educators we must provide a takeaway that is more meaningful than just developing performance-based skills. This article presents ideas on how to do this.
Using journals in an ensemble rehearsal is a powerful way to deepen students' learning experience. It only takes a few minutes, and is worth the time. This article will tell you how.
Are your percussionists playing parts that provide a meaningful, educational experience? A lot of music written for young ensembles contains well-written wind or string parts, but doesn't offer much for the percussionists. This article explains some common problems and offers solutions on how to give young percussionists what they deserve.
Music teachers often balance the roles of conductor and educator. However, sometimes the goals of a conductor are not the same as those of an educator.
"Are you sure you practiced this?!?" Young students often struggle to practice effectively at home. This article outlines one way to guide students so their efforts are more productive.