Welcome to The Wind Repertory Project™ an online resource for wind band conductors, enthusiasts, and students. 2,920 articles in the WRP database. [click here]
"The Sight Reading Factory is an innovative music composition engine that generates user customized sight reading for beginning through advanced level musicians. This online sight reading software was designed by musicians, for musicians. Subscribers have access to unlimited sight reading for any level and any supported instrument."
Three More Tips to Make Your Next Concert a Hit [read]
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Most people will agree that students who are involved in activities that interest them, in or outside of school, generally do well in their studies in school, also. There are always exceptions, but the research on this matter is well established and very positive.[read more]
Ever wonder why you see and hear the same 20 artists on the rotation on radio & television? No, it's not because people are calling the radio stations requesting the songs incessantly. The answer: media-consolidation. [read more]
At the Texas high school summer camps run by the Universal Cheerleaders Association, more costumed mascots than ever are perfecting their characters amid the pompoms and pyramids as the options for cheerleading instruction expand.[read more]
It’s late morning in the band room of Denison Middle School in rural western Iowa where 15 sets of eyes are locked on band director Ruben Newell. “It should be loooong,” Newell says as he slowly pulls a bow across the strings of the violin tucked under his chin and they respond with a high-pitched whine.[read more]
Collinsville Middle School eighth-grade student Michael Harding started playing a musical instrument just two years ago. So it was rather surprising to band director Mike Alexander when Michael wanted to compose a piece of music[read more]
Band of the Year 2012™ today announced Music & Arts, the largest band and orchestra instrument retailer and lesson provider in the country, as the platinum host sponsor of this year's mega music event, giving bands of all genres the opportunity to compete in top Texas venues between now and June 16. [read more]
Gil Evans, one of the most important jazz arrangers of the 20th century, was born 100 years ago today Evans is best known for music he wrote between 1957 and 1963 for his 19-piece orchestra, which backed trumpeter Miles Davis.[read more]
Was favoritism involved when a retired Fort Worth elementary school librarian got her old job back? A few people wondered that recently on a school board member's public blog.[read more]
Under the new law, teachers can be disciplined and speakers can be fined up to $500 for either promoting or condoning “gateway sexual activities.” While school district employees would be exempted from prosecution under the law, sexual education instructors can be sued by parents.[read more]
If you think about it, it's kind of surprising that left-handers are as emotionally balanced as they are. Right out of the box, left-handed kids realize the world wasn't quite made for them. At school, they do worse on timed exams and suffer awful back and neck cramps in the process. Why? Freaking right-handed desks. And scissors. And everything else. [read more]
A news story in the Dallas Morning News is causing concern for many TRTA members about the safety of their pension trust fund. TRTA is investigating the TRS story in the Dallas Morning News. As you know, TRS has thousands of investments and this story, while it may be accurate, is not a significant reflection of how TRS works or the many other investments that succeed on TRS members' behalf. [read more]
Jim Van Zandt, this year’s winner of the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the National Federation of State High School Associations, had what he would describe as a “well-rounded” education. [read more]
Band members at Southside High School are getting packages of cookies put together by a Hawaii tourism official in the hope of taking the sting out of losing money they paid for a planned trip to the islands.The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii spent about $1,700 to mail the packages to the students.[read more]
Alva Middle School band director Chuck Flory is a banjo-picking, Bob Marley-loving former symphony musician who pioneered steel drum instruction at Lee County schools.[read more]
Music's value is not easily converted into efficiencies and outcomes, writes ANDREW FORD. Today's managers are always wanting to ''outsource'' things. They talk about savings and partnerships and choice, while really they are trying to rid themselves of responsibility [read more].
Hildegard, who lived from 1098 to 1179, was a writer, composer, philosopher, the head of an abbey of nuns and visionary who founded the monasteries of Rupertsberg and Eibingen. She wrote theological, botanical and medicinal texts, as well as letters, liturgical songs and poems.[read more]
Yesterday was election day. In addition to voting for our Senate seat in Congress and a number of other key seats, for the community of Zionsville, equally important on the ballot is the referendum on funding for their schools. Though it is not their first, it is one that—in my opinion and that of many others—must pass. In November of 2010, their last referendum went down 61% to 39% vote.[read more]
I've played with a number of really tremendously fine trombone players in my career: Robin Eubanks, Frank Lacy, Luis Bonilla, Christophe Schwietzer, Andy Hunter, Conrad Herwig, and many others. I have great respect for trombone players, despite all the great jokes at their expense.(What's the difference between a squirrel laying dead on the highway and a trombone player laying dead on the highway? [read more]
El Cerrito High School's director of bands (and alum), Keith Johnson, has been appearing in the local press lately. [read more]
The Sauk Prairie School District is grappling with how to get the most “bang” for its band while remaining on the right side of the law. In the past when the Sauk Prairie High School Band performed Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” it replicated the piece’s famous cannon shots by firing blank cartridges from a shotgun into a barrel of sand.[read more]
Teaching, once a revered profession, has of late been much maligned. Teachers are accused of laziness and greed. They're blamed for low test scores, and a general decline in the nation's educational standing. Most people believe their work day is short and their vacations are long. But teachers also have their defenders — perhaps none so passionate as Taylor Mali.[read more]
In one of the most desperate attempts to appeal to the simple, conservative activists have released a video accusing teachers unions of bullying students, according to Reuters. It doesn't seem a lot of thought went into this latest gimmick. [read more]
All three said they owe their inspiration and career pursuits to one man – Larry Wells.For nearly 44 years, Wells has led high school bands, first in Charlotte, now at Northwestern High in Rock Hill.[read more]
Talladega College, it’s the home of the famous Amistad Murals, championship men’s and women’s basketball teams, an illustrious list of graduates that became university presidents, the first meeting place of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Andrew Young, alumni in business, science, education, healthcare and industry world-wide; and now adding to its current list is a new marching band. Talladega College is starting a marching band program this summer.[read more]
Who could deny, after what happened Thursday, that Premont Independent School District dispenses quality education? The lesson of the day, for Premont and other schools from 11 South Texas counties, was hope, faith, charity, humility, humanity, perseverance and community service.[read more]
A simple antidote to a corporatized, unfeeling, profit-maximizing world: Care. [read more]
I’ve posted this quiz before, but because I think it’s such a very helpful thing to know about yourself, I’m posting it again. Recognizing this distinction has been one of the most important insights that I’ve had into my own nature–more helpful, say, than understanding that I’m an under-buyer, not an over-buyer.[read more]
For decades, teachers, managers and parents have assumed that the performance of students and employees fits what's known as the bell curve — in most activities, we expect a few people to be very good, a few people to be very bad and most people to be average. [read more]
Premont ISD Superintendent Ernest Singleton promised himself he would not cry. He tried to steel himself against what he knew would be an emotional ceremony Thursday, when students from 22 area school districts announced how much they raised to help the long-struggling district pay for science labs.[read more]
Catholic High School student Mitchell Moore is showing people that dreams do come true.[read more]
Monday night, the Spring Branch school board added its voice to some 420 other test-weary school districts in Texas who have cried out, "Enough!" Enough already with the No. 2 pencils, the drills and the top-secret security measures.[read more]
Success and smiles. Those were the results of Thursday evening’s fifth-grade band concert at the Grand Island YWCA.[read more]
"Thanks a lot, Marquis," his classmate whispered angrily. "Now we lost 10 minutes of free time because you were messing around. You're stupid. We hate you!" Sound familiar? Although many experts oppose punishment-and-reward systems, they are still used in almost every classroom. [read more]
Psychologists have always assumed that the way emotions are organized in the brain is the same for all of us. But now, a new study suggests that left-handers process emotion in the opposite side of the brain to right-handers—which could change the way we think about and treat mental disorders.[read more]
I just came back from a jazz festival at Katy High School in Texas that show-cased student stage bands from ten schools mostly near Houston, but some as far away as Beaumont and Brownsville (the latter band stole the show).[read more]
This marks the first time since 1999 that a Beckville Band has achieved a Division 1 in both events[read more]
I just wanted to take a few minutes to say how proud I am of our Beckville Band. You’ve had a long and hard road to get where you are now, but with Mr. Ashcraft’s and everyone’s help you’ve done it! Congratulations again on the Region 21 UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest![read more]
There is a growing and real threat that the Texas Teacher Retirement System pension plan will be replaced by what is known as a defined contribution plan or 401(k). [read more]
U.S. public pensions ended the first quarter with a median gain of 7.5 percent, the best performance since 2010, as stocks and real estate boosted returns, Wilshire Associates said. [read more]
The board of directors of Willard High School's band has formally cancelled a band trip to Hawaii, nearly one week after it was revealed payments they had made to a travel company for the trip had gone unaccounted for.[read more]
On April 17 and April 18, the Vidor High School Bands competed at the U.I.L. Concert and Sight-reading Contest hosted by Nederland High School.[read more]
Five high school bands and three junior high bands received the top "Sweepstakes" rating at the 2012 UIL Region 6 Band Concert and Sight Reading Contest April 18 and 19 at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.[read more]
For incoming freshman to the Wellington High School Band the uniforms they will be wearing will be as old as them. Since 1998, for each parade, community performance or charity event the Mighty Wolverine Sound marching band members have donned their black-and-blue ensemble, a blend of polyester and wool buttoned up to their necks.[read more]
Charles L. Butler, band director at Smith High, died on Saturday after working as a deejay at a high school prom in Martinsville, Va. [read more]
The director of the University of Oklahoma band says a person going door-to-door and claiming to be collecting funds for the band is not affiliated with or authorized by OU.[read more]
Cuts to extracurricular activities, has some Hutto parents upset but Hutto ISD says it has to be done. Next year, if students want to play football, cheer, play in the band or even compete in UIL academic events parents will have to pay $100 per child and with nearly half of Hutto ISD’s student population considered economically disadvantaged, parents are concerned they won't be able to pay to let their kids play.[read more]
The afternoon performance of "Mary Poppins" was marked by loud yips, shouts and moans — and that was just fine. It was the second autism-friendly performance of a Broadway show, and for many families with a child who suffers from the disorder, it turned out to be a practically perfect day.[read more]
The Michigan marching band is headed to Texas.Band director Scott Boerma confirmed via email to AnnArbor.com on Tuesday that athletic director Dave Brandon informed him and his staff that the marching band will be attending the Michigan football team's 2012 season opener against defending national champion Alabama in the "Cowboys Classic," held in Arlington, Texas. [read more]
Stuff you can’t make up: Deion Sanders, who has been cited for misdemeanor simple assault in connection with a domestic disturbance that resulted in the arrest of his estranged wife, is opening a public charter school in Texas. And at that school he wants to film a reality show about the way he coaches the football team. [read more]
Many of my counseling clients are high school students, so I hear the stories from the tortured victims firsthand. Everything is about “the test”. Day to day instruction is about “the test”, grade promotion and graduation is about “the test”. “The test” is an ill-humored sadistic tyrant that’s overtaken our schools. [read more]
Contemporary classical music is devoid of melody and appeal, all noise and no fun. At least, that's the cliche. But this is music that is very much at the heart of our modern world[read more]
Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. [read more]
The'80s are in again, and so might be one of the era's most iconic Texans, J.R. Ewing. The television show "Dallas" was filmed on location at Southfork Ranch in Plano and is scheduled to be back on the air this fall. Band directors at Dan Ryder's Southfork Marching Band Workshop aren't particularly interested in oil futures or busting up rival cartels, but they are interested in discovering their own potential to designcreative marching drills.[read more]
"Schools have become really terrible places for students and teachers," Stager said. Most teenagers would agree. Funny thing is, Stager's not a disgruntled high school kid -- he's an adjunct professor of education at Pepperdine University with kids of his own. [read more]
Although gathering student performance data is a critical part of education, "testing day" remains one of the most dreaded—and costly—events on the school calendar. In a recent national survey, educators indicated they spend on average more than four weeks a year testing reading skills. Furthermore, students in grades pre-K through 5 spend an average of eight entire days taking reading tests. [read more]
After countless hours of preparation, members of the Bryan High School Colorguard traveled to Dayton, Ohio last weekend to participate in their first international competition.[read more]
What began as a concern expressed in an office meeting between coworkers eventually became a successful leadership organization led by two band directors. When the solution appeared to be training their students themselves, another co-worker chided them for being "sassy." [read more]
A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach
All deep things are song. It seems somehow the very central essence of us, song; as if all the rest were but wrappages and hulls! ~Thomas Carlyle [read more]
"Do It Yourself" Advertising on the Yellow Board
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TO ADVERTISE: Click on the link below to go to the message board. Post as you would any post. Be sure to include all information, including your email address. Preview your post, and then click "Post."
Even though your ad moves quickly "down" the board, don't worry! You get 2 more posts for your 5 bucks, and you can post those ads whenever you'd like!
Pay for ad by clicking on the Paypal link below. It's that simple!
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DON’T THROW THAT REED AWAY!!
CLIPPING OR BURNING SAXOPHONE AND CLARINET REEDS
By Dr. Harold E. Snyder
Adjusting woodwind reeds is as old as the instruments themselves, and much has been written on this subject. All methods of adjustment warn against doing much with the tip of the reed, because it is very delicate and vital for sealing with the mouthpiece. However, at certain times the tip must be adjusted for it can be too thick to produce the desired tone. Thinning the tip can be done using Dutch rush or 600 grit sandpaper. But at other times the tip can be too thin or too weak making it useless .[read more]
