Blog

As we all launch headfirst into the summer with Independence Day around the corner, I ask a simple question – what are you doing this summer to get yourself ready for school in the fall? Make sure to do these 10 things: Rest – Take time for yourself this summer, with some much needed mental and…

Russell L. Robinson, Ph.D., Composer/Arranger/Author/Musician Educator In my work with music programs and music teachers in on-site professional development, I have tried to assist educators (choral and instrumental) in “maximizing student engagement and musicianship” in their ensembles and music classrooms. These two areas (Engagement and Musicianship) go hand in hand. You can’t have one without…

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all.  In my 26 years in the music publishing industry, few things have impacted music in our schools more profoundly.  Many school ensembles have been unable to meet or have done so in small groups or virtually.  Composers and arrangers have struggled without commissions and guest appearances.  Many (myself…

Do you ever find yourself utterly exhausted at the end of a rehearsal, feeling like you lost a game of tug of war against your entire band?  The podium can feel like a very lonely place at times, leaving you frustrated and feeling like the “bad guy”; however, taking a step back and focusing on…

Artists of all disciplines are sometimes faced with the phenomenon commonly known as “Writers Block.”In these times, we face a lack of creative inspiration, and as a result, our creative output can slow to a halt. What I wish to offer here are a few suggestions on how to cope with writer’s block, how to…

Guest Blog by John M. Hillsman, band director at Beauregard High School I want to share these thoughts with band director friends, especially my younger band director friends. I formulated these ten statements over the years. Occasionally, I slightly revise one statement. I keep them handy in my notes on my phone/iPad and refer to…

To many, the avant-garde of music comes across as an impenetrable, pretentious wall of noise. What makes this music? And, why should we care about it? It is perhaps best to first define the term. It comes from French and translates to vanguard or advance guard. In medieval battle practice, the vanguard would travel ahead…

Below’s blog is based on an interview conducted by Worldstrides/Heritage in 2015 with composer Carl Strommen.  “On the Wings of Angels” by Carl Strommen, commissioned by Worldstrides/Heritage, is published and available from Excelcia Music Publishing. The way I approach commissions depends on the type of performing organization – band, orchestra, jazz band, choral – and…

Rehearsing the ensemble, or smaller groups within the ensemble, can serve many ends. The kind of work you take on should depend on what you seek to produce. Whatever your time frame and/or notes that you are attacking, it’s helpful to identify the specific outcome(s) you are trying to get the group to achieve. And…

In my experience, many musicians, especially those of us with a background in classical music, are at best uncomfortable and at worst terrified of the word ‘improvisation.’ Yet for centuries, improvisation was a part of every musician’s repertoire. It is said that J.S. Bach could improvise a prelude or fugue at the drop of a…