by Peter Boonshaft | Nov 28, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog
On October 28, 2018 the world lost a great treasure with the passing of Richard Gill, Australia’s world-renowned conductor, teacher, and advocate for music education. But that description of this remarkable human being doesn’t even scratch the surface of who he was or...
by Peter Boonshaft | Nov 14, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog
Before your next rehearsal, write this wonderful old saying on the board: “Why is it that there is never enough time to do things right the first time…but always enough time to do them over.” Ask your students to think about those words, really think about them,...
by Peter Boonshaft | Nov 6, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog
On those days that I become frustrated, and heaven knows they come as sure as kids who will forget to bring their instruments, or that a fire drill will happen during the last dress rehearsal for a concert, I often sit quietly and read these words of C. S. Lewis: “The...
by Peter Boonshaft | Oct 23, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog
The word biography is often defined as an account of someone’s life written by someone else. For us as teachers, our biography, in great measure, will be written by those we teach. Our students – each of them – will contribute to that imaginary tome, that...
by Peter Boonshaft | Oct 16, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog
At your next rehearsal, try saying nothing but positive things for 5 minutes straight. It sounds easy, but once you try it, you realize just how hard it really is to do. We are so used to saying positive things and then following those words up with a prescription for...