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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...