The Growing Band Director (77) Chip DeStefano and Caitlin Ramsey - Focus on Tone, Pitch and Starting Beginners Throwback
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Aug 9, 2025 Chip DeStefano, an experienced middle school band director and co-author of teaching materials, shares his focus on tone, pitch, and fundamentals. He discusses daily long tones, chorales, and key rotation. Practical strategies for beginning players, breathing exercises, mouthpiece work, pacing rehearsals, and running frequent concerts are highlighted.
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Make Tone And Pitch Daily Priorities
- Make tone and pitch daily priorities because they are long-term skills that require repetition.
- Use long tones, Remington/pivot scales, and hymn-like chorales to focus breathing, listening, and smoothness.
Use Simple Chorales To Isolate Tone
- Use simple chorales with identical rhythms so students concentrate on tone and pitch instead of rhythms.
- Rotate keys and use concert F around-the-room work to set a consistent ensemble sound.
Follow A Consistent Daily Routine
- Teach a daily routine: breathing, pivot (Remington) scale, pass-the-pitch, then an easy scale/chorale.
- Include instrument-specific one-page warm-ups for daily individual practice.
