After Sectionals

In this episode, we discuss picking Spring Concert music. The goal of the Spring Concert is different for all three bands, and Alex, Jenna, and Darcy talk about what factors go into choosing the right music for their kids based on those goals. The post AS 010 : Spring Concert Music appeared first on after sectionals.

In March every Texas band director received a survey from TMEA about our health/sanity/balance/burnout. It was a survey fueled by questions about exercise, diet, and what we do outside of the school day. Jenna, Alex, and I have talked about this a lot over the course of the last two years as none of us […] The post AS 009 : TMEA Sanity Survey appeared first on after sectionals.

Need the words to Herman the Worm? No thanks necessary.   The post AS Silliness 001 : The Pee Story appeared first on after sectionals.

The last 12 weeks of school is 100% prep time for next year’s bands. While we definitely are still teaching beginner classes, we have split most of those periods amongst the three of us into two speeds: those who who need 12 more weeks to master Essential Elements book one and fundamental skills (ex. one […] The post AS 008 : Prepping Kids for NEXT Year appeared first on after sectionals.

This shortie gives ideas for verbalizing clarinet fingerings with your beginners. If they can say it, they can play it! The post AS Shortie 001 – Naming Clarinet Pinkies appeared first on after sectionals.

Having a student teacher on campus brings to mind all of the lessons a new teacher still has to learn, lessons that most often can only be learned from making their own mistakes. As the three of us talked, classroom management and injecting your specific personality into your teaching style were the major themes. Finding […] The post AS 007 : What Would I Tell First Year Me? appeared first on after sectionals.

On March 9th and 10th, Alex and Jenna’s respective bands went to UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest. Both bands did a fabulous job. Alex’s band played “Forward March”, “Storm Mountain Jubilee”, and “Phantom Ship.” Jenna’s performed “Alamo March”, “Broken Bow”, and “Moscow, 1941.” Sitting in our office decompressing, Jenna and Alex had many thoughts on […] The post AS 006 : Post UIL Breakdown appeared first on after sectionals.

After our TMEA rhythm clinic, a lot of people asked us if we had special counting charts for teaching cut time, and the answer is no. A few years ago we started introducing the concept of cut time after learning how to play #175 (Egyptian Dance) in Essential Elements. We learn #175 at “normal tempo” […] The post AS 004 : Cut Time appeared first on after sectionals.

This week is UIL week for non-varsity bands in Region 26. Alex and Jenna have 2 and 3 rehearsals left respectively before performing, and deciding how to best use that time is sometimes not the easiest decision. Both are pushing tempo, tempo, tempo with a side of sightreading. Jenna’s band in particular is very young, […] The post AS 005 : UIL WEEK! appeared first on after sectionals.

Every week we have Chair Test Tuesday. I feel like weekly chair tests are positive as it forces the kids to get lots of practice getting nervous in front of each other while simultaneously taking some of the stress away from the potential for a bad playing test… if they happen every week, redemption comes […] The post AS 003 : Beginner Pacing & Tuning appeared first on after sectionals.

Amongst the flurry of feedback we got from our TMEA rhythm clinic was an email from a young teacher asking how I kept control of my classes when I teach with such high energy. The three of us have wildly contrasting personalities and teacher personas, so it is logical that we all handle our classes […] The post AS 002 : Classroom Management appeared first on after sectionals.

A podcast about band? Super nerdy… Several weeks ago it occurred to me how lucky I am to be surrounded every day by my BBFFs (best band friends & family) – our band staff, lesson teachers, high school directors, etc – and that some of our best practices come from bouncing ideas off one another […] The post AS 001 : Introductions appeared first on after sectionals.