Boonshaft’s Blog
#80. What Kind?
During rehearsals, do we determine the quality, productivity, atmosphere, or kind of rehearsal our students will have, or do our students determine the...
#79. Triple The Size Of Your Ensemble!
I bet that title caught your attention, and that you’re probably thinking what follows is an idea about recruiting. Nope. Have you ever worried that the...
#78. Doing Is Understanding
As you’re planning repertoire for your next concert, how about including a composition that features a narrator, and invite your school principal,...
#77. Why Did It Fall?
As Bernard Baruch so perfectly put it, “Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.” Getting our students to wonder and question “why” something is...
#76. What Tiny Changes Can Do!
Before your next rehearsal, try a few things that will make all the difference in the world. Simply slide the first chair in the second row over so that...
#75. Overwhelming versus Manageable?
One of the hardest aspects of being a teacher is remembering the difficulty of first learning something that now comes so easily to us. Something that we...
#74. In Honor Of Greatness
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...
#73. The First Time
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...
#72. Irrigation
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...