How many times have we heard from adults that they wish their parents didn’t allow them to quit their musical instrument when they were younger? There comes a time in a large percentage of music students' lives when they want to quit their … [Continue reading]
Dear Board of Education Members: Usually someone like me is writing to you at the end of the year, pleading for no cuts to be made to our arts programs. But I decided to be proactive and write this at the beginning of the year -- instead focusing … [Continue reading]
Greatness in teaching is just as rare as greatness in any other profession. Although it's impossible to offer a prescription of qualities in order to cultivate great music teachers, understanding these qualities can give all would-be teachers a … [Continue reading]
Playing a musical instrument is fun, of course. But school administrators, teachers, parents, and students all have a different idea of what "fun" actually means when it comes time for the arts in schools. I believe that without a unified … [Continue reading]
While it is true that I spend most of my time writing about how important it is to begin (and then continue) musical instrument instruction in school from a young age, it is also true that children can still experience the incredible benefits of … [Continue reading]
It's the beginning of another school year, and hundreds of thousands of school children around the country have chosen which instrument they want to play and have taken it home for the first time. It's exciting, to say the least, and possibly the … [Continue reading]
If parents listened solely to most administrators and school leaders, they would believe that it is impossible to schedule instrumental music into a school day already packed with state mandates and test preparation. There is no doubt that … [Continue reading]
"Public School Cuts Music Programs; Teachers Lose Jobs" "High School Music Program Slashed" "Budget Cuts Affect Music and Arts" We see those headlines in the news all the time. During every budget cycle, teachers, parents, and music advocates … [Continue reading]
As a parent, one of the best things that I can hope for is that my children have the wherewithal to make their way through life armed with a wide variety of skills and a "can-do" mindset. As a teacher, school leader, and professor, I have seen way … [Continue reading]
Most parents and students start the summer with the best intentions as far as instrumental music practice is concerned. Some families choose to rent their instrument for the summer months and not return it to the store/school. Some even buy a new … [Continue reading]
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