by Peter Boonshaft | Mar 10, 2020 | Boonshaft's Blog
At the end of a session I was giving at a music education conference, a new teacher asked me a wonderful – though daunting – question. He said, “I just started my first job teaching at a school with a very weak music program. I want to do great things at this...
by Peter Boonshaft | Mar 4, 2020 | Boonshaft's Blog
As I think about the multitudinous aspects of being a teacher, I am reminded of the brilliant words of my dear friend – and astounding educator – Bob Phillips, who challenges each of us when he asks: “Am I preparing my students for my past or am I preparing them for...
by Peter Boonshaft | Feb 25, 2020 | Boonshaft's Blog
I have always espoused the idea of making phone calls or sending notes home to parents or guardians when students show real progress toward – or achieve – a significant accomplishment. Finding something praiseworthy for the child who will someday sit principal...
by Peter Boonshaft | Feb 18, 2020 | Boonshaft's Blog
Here’s a quote I think should be on the wall of every music classroom. More importantly, I think it should be in the thoughts of every music student. John C. Maxwell so perfectly expressed what we as teachers know to be profoundly true: “Successful and unsuccessful...
by Peter Boonshaft | Feb 11, 2020 | Boonshaft's Blog
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...