Tested, actionable resources to help you inspire, support and encourage your child and their music program.
It’s imperative for young musicians and audience members to have proper concert etiquette. Ah, band and orchestra concerts. A culmination of hard work and steady practice. A beautiful movement of notes and harmonies from dozens of young musicians. A triumphant moment for band and orchestra directors and parents alike as…
Whether you are renting a clarinet, saxophone or other reed instrument right now, thinking about it, or playing your 500th concert, understanding reeds will help you create the highest quality sounds and care well for your reeds. If you’re a parent whose child plays any type of reed instrument for…
Summer has come to a close, which can only mean one thing…it’s time for students to enter a brand new school year. We’ve put together a guide for every music student to follow as you head back to school and enter music classes – band or orchestra – for the first…
Summer is here, and regular routines are being replaced with recreation and relaxation. Between barbecues, pool days and sports leagues, summer instrument practice can fall by the wayside. So we’ve rounded up a list of summer practice tips from a few our favorite sources. These five quick reads will…
Do you have questions about what to do with your student’s rental instrument when school lets out for the summer? Don’t worry – you’re not the first! We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions from parents that will help you as you consider the benefits of summer instrument rentals.…
Kids need music. Simple as that. Why else do parents sing to comfort their infants, put on lullabies for their toddlers, or play sing-along DVDs for their elementary-aged kids? But there’s a fundamental difference between exposing children to music and educating them in music. I would argue that educating children…
Not many people see band directors as educators with an especially difficult career. For most, we don’t blame them. How would the average person know? But for others, like administrators, teachers and colleagues, it’s really a shame they don’t see it. While we can probably all agree that that the…
Band camp is on the horizon! Are you ready? Many bands offer their own recommended list of items to have for band camp, so check with your director. Check out our recommendations below and feel free to add your own in the comments! Sun/Heat Protection Hat or Cap A wide…
The bell rings and the student’s race for the exit. School’s out! A summer of fun is just around the corner! What about their instrument, though? What will they do with that thing they’ve been learning how to play all school year? If they’re like many young players, the answer…
There are few things better than seeing a child – especially your own – excited about being a part of something bigger than themselves. Bands and orchestras in school districts around the country provide this opportunity for children each and every year. But you’ve got to get an instrument and…
