#186. Now Versus How

#186. Now Versus How

What’s the difference between a teacher and just about everyone else? Well, I could write for hours and never really answer that question, but it might just be best summed up by saying that most people – in any situation where something needed to be accomplished –...
#185.  It’s The Modality That Matters

#185. It’s The Modality That Matters

Let’s say you are teaching a new rhythm to your students. You have them perform it. It goes pretty well. In an effort to get it even “cleaner” you have them repeat it. It gets better, but wanting it performed still better, you repeat it a third or fourth time. But by...
#184. “Depends On Who You Ask”

#184. “Depends On Who You Ask”

I recently saw an adorable poster that caught my eye. It showed a very large dog standing next to a very small dog. Both had obviously been standing in mud about six inches deep. The difference was that the large dog had mud coating her fur on the bottom six inches of...
#183. Consonant Mistakes

#183. Consonant Mistakes

Wouldn’t it be great if every mistake our ensemble made was as noticeable as a unison being played as a minor second?! Those obvious mistakes we can pick out and remediate almost instantly. The problem I often notice is when mistakes are “consonant” in nature. Those...
#182. The Essence

#182. The Essence

At the start of your next rehearsal, after you have the ensemble’s undivided attention, before you say a word, have them watch you write the following quote on the board. I wouldn’t say a word. I would simply look at it for a few seconds, then look at them for a few...