Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band

Please excuse my shaky voice in this interview. I am fully recovered from being sick (except for my voice). Do you teach at a school where hardly anyone takes private lessons? Have you ever wished there was a formalized progressive music evaluation tool that increases musical achievement and is adaptable to your band? You need to check out The Power in the Progress System. My guest today- Dr. Dwight Satterwhite - has taught for 48 years! He "retired" from the University of Georgia, but is still active in music education. He developed The Power in the Progress System through all those years. It's proven. It's tested. It works! I started using it in October of 2013 and have seen increased achievement in my band students. Reach Dr. Satterwhite HERE and get started with a free trial version of the program today.   www.Power-Progress-System.com    

I had a chance to meet Steven at the Colorado ASTA Conference this summer. He is a very interesting composer and teacher who currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University. In this podcast, Steven and I have a conversation about some of the following topics: - Why writing the ending (and beginning) of a song is difficult - Why he wishes he would have earned his doctorate sooner - The importance of the 31st Proverb in a marriage (and in composition) - Why "waiting to be inspired" is a myth - AND MORE Download a catalog of Steven's music HERE. Contact Steven for a commission or guest appearance HERE. Listen to clips on SoundCloud. Purchase his arrangements at Ludwig Masters. Purchase his CD on CD Baby. Meet him at the Ludwig Master's booth at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Connect with Steven on Facebook.  

Are schools allowed to have Christmas concerts? Can you wish your students "Merry Christmas?" Can one put up a nativity scene or Christmas tree on public property? These are all questions answered in today's podcast. You might also check out Episode 10, Why I Don't Do Christmas Concerts.  

Join me as I interview Travis J Weller. Travis is a middle/high school band director AND a composer. In this interview we talk about a lot of things, including Travis' biggest mistake and biggest triumph. He has been at his school almost 20 years! What does Michael Jordan have to do with music education? How important is it to obtain a master's and doctorate degrees? How Brian Balmages - another composer - influenced Travis, and how he was influenced by Beethoven too. You don't want to miss three pieces of advice for those interested in composing. You may be surprised! Check out Travis' website or follow him on twitter @travisjweller. You can also order his music on JW Pepper.

Have you been offered a job teaching band but it includes a guitar and orchestra class? Do you feel unqualified to teach the class? I did too! Listen to the podcast and learn how you can teach guitar and orchestra and how I came to enjoy it. I am in my tenth year of teaching those classes. The Guitar Manufacturing Association sponsors several Teaching Guitar Workshops all across the country. The one week workshop is a great hands on experience that will get you started. I also joined the American String Teacher's Association and the Colorado chapter of ASTA. I met many helpful people through that organization and had the chance to take classes like "Violin Boot Camp."

The learning one obtains as part of a master's program can be so important. Scott McKee's father Max McKee developed the American Band College program (known by many as ABC) many years ago. In addition to an affordable master's degree, ABC offers many resources to help band directors. The 3 year master's features 25 faculty each year - names such as Doc Severinsen and Eugene Rousseau - so students experience 75 teachers in their three years. Find the resources and more info about the program at www.bandworld.org.  - See more at: http://www.themusicedpodcast.com/the_music_ed_podcast/episode_32_interview_with_scott_mckee_why_a_masters_degree_can_be_important_part_2/#sthash.jGi21CTL.dpuf

A master's degree is important for the learning one acquires, and it can be obtained much quicker and at a lower cost than one might imagine.

Dr. Steve Ambrose took a band program from 19 students to over 100, then became head of music in a large district. Find out his biggest regret and greatest triumph. Invite Steve to clinic or guest conduct your next event. Find him at www.2forfunband.com and www.billdealsband.com. 

You too can start a band website for your school band. Can you create documents in Word with photos and formatting? Then you have the skills to create a website.

Do you wish you had more tubas and low brass? Do you have an abundance of flutes and no clarinets? In this episode, I share some tips on how you can obtain better instrumentation in your bands.