Boonshaft’s Blog
#37. Silence Is Better Than Golden
Silent rehearsals may be one of the most remarkably effective rehearsal tools I know. Nothing I know works better to focus an ensemble than posting the...
#36. Said Versus Did Versus Feel
In the words of Maya Angelou, "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you...
#35. Roses
I guess it’s all in how we look at things. The renowned philosopher Ziggy – you know, the cartoon critter – profoundly counseled, "You can complain...
#34. Right Versus Wrong
Try simply writing this remarkably perfect quote in giant letters on the board before band. Don't say a word about it. However, just before you start to...
#33. An Open Door
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."...
#32. Trumpets, Your Pyramid Is Upside Down!
So you're listening to your band and their corporate or overall balance is good but the balance is still unsatisfying. When that happens, section balance...
#31. Our Own Best Critic
I recently conducted an All-State Band on the exact same stage, in the same school auditorium, as the very first honors band festival I ever performed in...
#30. Getting Administrators Involved
Too often administrators don't understand the process of what we do in band. Help them understand what we do and how we do it. Make them a part of a...
#29. Marking Progress
Why is it that all too often students feel they have enough time to go back and rehearse something over and over again because they think they will...