#68. He Is No Fool

#68. He Is No Fool

by | Oct 3, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog

Jim Elliot once wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” As teachers, we can “give” as much energy, enthusiasm, excitement and passion as we can muster in every rehearsal we do, and it will never deplete our supply, for we were...
#67. An Essential Ingredient

#67. An Essential Ingredient

by | Sep 25, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog

When our students start to feel frustrated by that which doesn’t come easy, by that which is a profound challenge, by that which makes them question their efforts, I can think of no better lesson, no better words than those of Eloise Ristad when she wrote, “…it is...
#66 …To Awaken…

#66 …To Awaken…

by | Sep 18, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog

When you think of what we do, and remember the words of Albert Einstein when he stated: “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” It is humbling. It is daunting. It is almost overwhelming. But it is also inspiring and...
#65. Let Them Hear The Difference

#65. Let Them Hear The Difference

by | Sep 11, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog

I am convinced that half the problem with teaching students in a band is that many of them have a very distorted vantage point from which they hear the group, by nature of where they are seated. Things like ensemble balance, section balance, layers of compositional...
#64. Start A Good Habit

#64. Start A Good Habit

by | May 23, 2018 | Boonshaft's Blog

As I look out at my students while rehearsing, I so often see bad habits reveal themselves. And what gets me is that I have mentioned those bad habits over and over and over. It can be debilitating. When I take the time to think about why this is happening, I usually...