In my previous blog, I mentioned how our intense concentration, or worrying about a problem, in rehearsals often causes us to forget about using what can be our most powerful...

When I think back to the greatest conductors I have played under or watched, there are many commonalities: they knew the score cold, they possessed the theoretical and historical...

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." When Benjamin Franklin stated those remarkable words, he encapsulated one of the gold standards of...

Before class or rehearsal one day, write the following anonymous quote on the board: "Don't wait until you've reached your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of yourself...

In my previous blog, I discussed a specific way to use a video recording to help assess your conducting. Here’s another terrific technique. Video yourself conducting a piece from...

I'm sure we have all wondered what our students see when they are watching us. Certainly, our viewing video recordings of our rehearsals can help provide insights into what they...

The next time you have a student or an entire ensemble continually stumble on one note when playing a run or fast passage, try this. Have them hold that "bad" note. Then have...

I love to tell stories, use metaphors, or make analogies in rehearsals. I've always felt it was a great way to connect with students, to describe an image of something we're...

I've long suggested that when our students are coming in for the start of rehearsals, we should have music playing by the finest of that type of ensemble for our students to...