#116. Hamburger!

#116. Hamburger!

The next time you teach your beginning (or need to remind your not-so-beginning!) trumpet players how to hold the trumpet with correct hand position, try using the analogy of holding a hamburger. That’s right, a hamburger! Picture a giant hamburger sitting on a plate...
#115. Give Me Excess Of It

#115. Give Me Excess Of It

After the recent passing of remarkable Australian musician, conductor, educator and music education advocate Richard Gill, I got to thinking of how much I enjoyed reading his memoirs, entitled “Give Me Excess Of It” several years ago. This amazing man possessed...
#114. Seeds

#114. Seeds

I have often thought that part of being a great teacher is keeping what we do in perspective. I will freely admit I haven’t always been very good at it, but the older I get the more it rings true. Sometimes, it is as simple as remembering the words of John C. Maxwell,...
#113. What We Learn With Pleasure…

#113. What We Learn With Pleasure…

I often think of the words of Alfred Mercier, “What we learn with pleasure we never forget.” I marvel at how true that statement is! It also reminds me of an experience I had many, many years ago when I had to take the last class for my doctoral degree. It was a...
#112. Kneeses!

#112. Kneeses!

One of the fastest ways I know to improve and unify the tone quality of a clarinet section is to remember the wisdom found in a very, very, very old saying. Though the wording gives away the fact that it was from a distant time, it is nonetheless as applicable and...