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3 Easy Stress Relief Tips When Planning Your Big Trip
Amber Mize, Troubadour Tours

It is seven days until your spring trip begins (and five days before
UIL).  You still have a dozen kids who have paid most, some, or
none of the money for the trip, but insist they are
going…hopefully. While you would like to be putting the finishing
touches on your contest pieces, you find yourself verifying
rooming lists and meal plans with the hotel staff, confirming pick-
up and drop off times with your bus company, and trying to add
last minute chaperone changes.
[more]
Mark Time
Mike Fanning

The purpose of the Mark time is to establish strong timing is the
feet. Strong time is the bonding of music and marching.
Everyone must have their feet in time and learn how the rhythms
relate to their feet. If this happens then we all play and move in
time together.
[more]
Posture Exercise
Mike Fanning

Many are not sure where to start when beginning a marching technique
program. Some may start with forward marching, some with
commands and some with mark time. I recommend starting with
Posture. Before a marching ensemble can look uniformed moving
together they have to look uniformed standing still. Here is a break down
of a posture exercise. The goal of this exercise is to give every member
the same idea of what posture is
[Read more]
Welcome to The Yellow Board! You are visiting the most
popular website for band directors in Texas.

What is The Yellow Board?

The Yellow Board's mission is to support collaboration and communication
among band directors and other music professionals, to serve as an
information board for leaders and members of various state music
organizations, to enable mentoring and provide opportunities for teacher
encouragement, to be an online resource for insight and instruction, and to
foster interactive, real-time discussion of current music and education issues.

Who is allowed to post on The Yellow Board?

Anyone  involved in the band or music teaching profession is encouraged to
post on The Yellow Board. High school students and parents are asked not to
post on the board without first contacting the board administrator. Advertisers
and others with a product or service to promote are asked to contact the board
adminstrator before posting.

How do I post on The Yellow Board?

To respond to a message on the board, simply find the link to respond, click
on it, and you will be responding to the message you are reading. To post a
new thread on the board, scroll to the top of the board, find a link entitled
"POST ON THE YELLOW BOARD" Click on that link and you will be starting a
new discussion thread on the board.

Who is the board administrator?

The Yellow Board  is maintained by Steve Hankins. Steve is an active Texas
band director. Steve has taught for twenty eight years in locations throughout
Texas at the high school and middle school level. Steve's bands have won
many UIL Sweepstakes awards. He is currently the band director at Heritage
Middle School in San Antonio. Steve is a member of TMEA, TBA, and TMAA. He
is an active adjudicator and region band clinician. Contact Steve at:
admin@theyellowboard.com

What are the posting rules?

The Yellow Board has evolved into a community of respectful and informed
posters and readers. As long as posts are respectful towards others, they
generally remain on the board. Posts that mention names of schools, band
directors, or band programs may be removed. Posts that discuss possible or
rumored band job openings may also be removed.  Band directors who are
not comfortable with their name or school being mentioned in a post or thread
are encouraged to contact the board administrator to  have the post or thread
removed (No questions asked!).

How do I advertise on The Yellow Board?

Advertising on The Yellow Board is a great and inexpensive way to reach
thousands of band directors every day!  There are four threads at the top of the
message board that discuss advertising on The Yellow Board. Please read
the threads, and if you have any questions or would like to begin advertising on
The Yellow Board, contact Steve at:
admin@theyellowboard.com

How do I find The Yellow Board?

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This article is reprinted in response to post on the Yellow Board asking why
we have competition (Why can't we just teach?). There is growing concern
among band directing professionals regarding the role of competition. I
present this article as an example of the kind of thought that is "out there"
about competition. I hope this will lead to further discussion on the message
board.

The Case Against Competition
By Alfie Kohn

When it comes to competition, we Americans typically recognize
only two legitimate positions: enthusiastic support and qualified
support.

The first view holds that the more we immerse our children (and
ourselves) in rivalry, the better. Competition builds character and
produces excellence. The second stance admits that our society
has gotten carried away with the need to be Number One, that
we push our kids too hard and too fast to become winners -- but
insists that competition can be healthy and fun if we keep it in
perspective.
[Read More]
Teach with Encouragement!
Steve Hankins

Teaching with an encouraging approach has produced a solid
band program in my school. However there has been some
negative criticism from parents, teachers, and students.
Teaching with encouragement is not as easy as we might think,
but give it a try!

I was recently challenged in the teacher's lounge to talk about
my philosophy of teaching, particularly as it related to teaching
my own band students.  The teacher who asked told me that I
seemed to be “overdoing it” when it came to encouragement,
liking it more to “bribery,” and then went on to explain that
students in my band classes are not learning about the real
world.
[Read More]
Would you like to contribute an article to the Yellow Board?
Please contact Steve at admin@theyellowboard.com for more
information!
Seeking a band
director position in
Texas?
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Navigate to TMEA Job
Listings
Texas Music Educators Association

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UIL and TMEA Region Websites

Texas Music Adjudicators Association

Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter