Comments for Sound Education

Comment on Weekly Practice Journal by David Ahrens

David Ahrens — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:28:00 +0000

Thanks Dave. Yes, I did post it on the Band Directors Posterous site. Thanks for suggesting it.

Comment on December Music Education Blog Carnival by David Ahrens

David Ahrens — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:32:00 +0000

Your welcome, and thank you! I thought it might make it a bit more interesting to get some context on the submitters.

Comment on December Music Education Blog Carnival by Dr. J. Pisano

Dr. J. Pisano — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:15:00 +0000

Thanks, Great Job on this post/collection/carnival. I especially like how you included a brief bio blurb on each submitter… I think I’ll ask folks to continue the tradition in the future.

Comment on Student Band Arrangements by Brandt Schneider

Brandt Schneider — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Record everything. Post on a wiki for students along with noteflight file.

Comment on Tuba Q and A: High Range by Dave

Dave — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:49:00 +0000

A high school tubist should be able to play a wider range than G to F, I’ve been playing for a year (Granted I’m in high school but I just switched a year ago) and I can play pedal tones and almost up to a B that sits on top of the staff. The B isn’t quite a clear note yet, but it’s getting there.

Comment on Weekly Practice Journal by Dave Shaw

Dave Shaw — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Stealing! uh, Borrowing? Have you sent this to the Band Directors repository on Posterous, or posted it to the Band Directors Group on FB?

Comment on Free Android Apps for Band Directors by Music Education Blog Carnival | sing imagination

Music Education Blog Carnival | sing imagination — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:57:28 +0000

[...] Ahrens writes: Free Android Apps for Band Directors posted at Sound [...]

Comment on Free Android Apps for Band Directors by Elyse A. Evans Kircher

Elyse A. Evans Kircher — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:41:00 +0000

Great post! Thank you!
I had been using Musical Lite, which has a metronome, pitch pipe, keyboard, and drums in it. I want to try the metronome and keyboard apps you recommended, though, because they seem to have more features.

Comment on Free Android Apps for Band Directors by Brian

Brian — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:17:00 +0000

great stuff! I look forward to the next post.

Comment on American Band College by Tom Gard

Tom Gard — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:40:00 +0000

As a 2010 graduate of ABC, I highly recommend this Masters Degree program to ANY band teacher, regardless of what age you teach or what part of the world you hail from. Although the degree is billed as a Masters in Conducting, the primary benefit is in pedagogy (both instrumental and rehearsal methods). You will work with phenomenal conductors as well, and you will learn a lot regarding the art of conducting; but the biggest benefit is being more knowledgeable about everything going on from the podium.

We premiered a piece by Johan De Meij last year, and I was fortunate not only to rehearse and conduct the piece with my colleagues but then to hang out with Mr. De Meij during the process. These are the kinds of experiences that take place every single year at ABC.

Finally, the research projects that make up the “academia” of the program are incredible. While any school can make you sit in a library and research some element of music or band literature, ABC forces you to create projects that are tailored to your weaknesses. We record ourselves conducting and have to watch it. We learn our bassoon fingerings! We discover more about ourselves through this program and through the work of our annually rotating faculty (another advantage, which allowed me to work with De Meij, Robert W. Smith, Jan Van Der Roost, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, and so many more of the most relevant names in our profession) than any other program that gives you the same instructors year after year.

It is easy to gush about a program like this, but it is the sole reason I defeated burnout as a young teacher (I just completed my 10th year this past school year of public school teaching). I was going down a really discouraging path until ABC, and it reawakened a passion and a fire I badly needed. And hey, you get to work with peers from all over the country. It’s a great way to network and learn about music education from everywhere (international, too!) in the event that you’re ever looking for another gig elsewhere. Best wishes to you, David!