by Peter Boonshaft | Feb 28, 2023 | Boonshaft's Blog
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” When Benjamin Franklin stated those remarkable words, he encapsulated one of the gold standards of education: “experiential learning,” or what is often referred to as...
by Peter Boonshaft | Feb 14, 2023 | Boonshaft's Blog
Before class or rehearsal one day, write the following anonymous quote on the board: “Don’t wait until you’ve reached your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of yourself every step you take toward reaching that goal.” Don’t say...
by Peter Boonshaft | Feb 7, 2023 | Boonshaft's Blog
In my previous blog, I discussed a specific way to use a video recording to help assess your conducting. Here’s another terrific technique. Video yourself conducting a piece from beginning to end. If the piece has several movements, record them all. Then, with the...
by Peter Boonshaft | Jan 31, 2023 | Boonshaft's Blog
I’m sure we have all wondered what our students see when they are watching us. Certainly, our viewing video recordings of our rehearsals can help provide insights into what they see, but I would like to suggest an additional step that will help us actually see...
by Peter Boonshaft | Jan 24, 2023 | Boonshaft's Blog
The next time you have a student or an entire ensemble continually stumble on one note when playing a run or fast passage, try this. Have them hold that “bad” note. Then have them start on that note and continue the passage until it is firmly corrected....