Skip to main content

Professional Development

TEACHING TIPS

SELF CARE

MASTER EDUCATOR COLLECTIVE

CONFERENCES

Stage Fright Isn’t Just “Nerves”

To combat the body’s natural reaction to danger, make performing in front of others a regular part of your music class.

When Kids Compare You to Their Old Director

Don’t despair when your students say, “This isn’t how Mr./Mrs. So-and-So did it.” Be consistent and keep showing up.

A Realistic To-Do List

Don’t live in color-coded chaos to prove how organized you are. Do less and actually finish your work day with some energy.

School band practicing outside.

FOOTBALL AND BAND: A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN?

Build teamwork and collaboration within your music program and throughout your campus community by working with athletic coaches and spirit team directors.

Young female cellist playing.

REDUCING PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

How can we help our students deal with nerves and anxiety before a concert, competition or performance?

Teaching Tips

Looking for new – or new to you – ideas? Check out these teaching tips.

CHECK OUT TIPS

Help Kids Who Want to Quit Before They Become Good

Students who show up and try but still struggle need help getting over “the hump.” Fluency-driven rehearsals may be the answer!

Great Programs Can Have Small Numbers

Don’t feel “less than” if you have fewer students than other programs. Take advantage of more one-on-one interaction with your band students.

5 Small Things That Make a Big Difference

Put these things on your daily to-do list — you’ll be surprised at how much they resonate with your students.

Apple sitting on stack of books with nearby stack of ABCs spelled in blocks.

The ABCs of Classroom Management

These 26 tips will help you connect with your students and make your music class run smoother.

Computer mouse on top of sheet music.

Try this Creative Composition Activity

Ignite creativity with this lesson, which teaches composing and arranging as well as sight reading.

Teacher showing student how to play trombone.

Practice Effectively: Go Slow to Go Fast

Help students play music at a high level with slow practice and gradual increases in music difficulty.

Self-Care

Sharing your expertise and encouraging the next generation of musicians takes a toll. Some ideas for self-care here.

BROWSE SELF-CARE

A Realistic To-Do List

Don’t live in color-coded chaos to prove how organized you are. Do less and actually finish your work day with some energy.

The Booster Club Isn’t Your Boss

Establish clear boundaries and lines of communication with band parents to ensure that the music program and their students come first.

Stop Fighting Sports

Make your busy students’ lives a little easier by collaborating with coaches to give kids the time to participate in band and sports.

Five More Steps to a Productive First Five Years

To be successful, young music educators should focus on recruitment, repertoire, networking, joining professional organizations and committing to lifelong learning.

Master Educator Collective

Experience. Commitment. Expertise. Meet these educators and learn more about what makes them masters of their craft.

LEARN MORE

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dana Sedatole

From serving as a head band director teaching beginning 6th grade instrumentalists to addressing the needs of over 20,000 music educators as president of the Texas Music Educators Association, Dana Pradervand-Sedatole has done it all! Her methodology of keeping fundamentals at the core of her teaching has led her students to become more responsible for […]

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Sarah McKoin

Dr. Sarah McKoin is a passionate educator dedicated to discovering art at any level of performance. She serves as the Director of Bands and Division Chair of Conducting and Ensembles at Texas Tech where she oversees all facets of the University band program, including four concert bands and two athletic bands as well as mentoring […]

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Dennis Llinas

Vitality! Fervor! Passion! Understanding! Dr. Dennis Llinás doesn’t hide his emotional investment in anything that he does. As an educator, conductor, and composer, Dennis deems music to enrich the lives of everyone involved in the music-making experience … not only the music-makers but the audience members through inventive and engaging programming. He approaches his life’s […]

Conferences

ASTA, MEAs, MTNA and PASIC – find out about these and other conferences for music educators here.

LEARN MORE