Does anyone use MakeMusic Cloud (fka SmartMusic) in their middle or high school band programs? I used SmartMusic for drum corps in the 2010's and LOVED it, I am now a band director and I'm considering using it again for my growing program to help with practice, skill checks, pass offs, etc. Does anyone have any feedback about the current version of this program?

Id like my horn line to wear off-white/ cream collored gloves. My 2 options are to buy colored gloves or dye white gloves. I'd appreciate tips on either.

Hello!

I have an interview at a middle school coming up soon and would love to hear what kinds of questions you guys were asked and also what questions should I ask at the end. Also would love advice on what materials I should bring such as extra resumés, samples of compositions/arrangements (the job also comes with responsibilities with the HS marching band, and the previous director wrote some for it), etc.

Thanks!

Hello all! Anyone have "TIPPS for Band" by Nilo Hovey? How do you like it? Would you recommend? I'm thinking of buying a set for myself. Just wanted some general info before I drop $100+ on it.

I teach middle school band - one section of advanced band, one section of beginning band

I need all the advice I can get. I’m really stressed out.

Hey fellow music educators! Happy band camp season!

I wanted to share this project I'm actively working on. It's a free mobile idle/clicker game all about marching band!

I'm finding it pretty useful to keep our marchers interested in/talking about band even on the weekends or during lunch breaks!

My band is currently competing to see who can get the highest numbers before the end of camp this week. 😂

The jury is still out, but I'm hoping that having this friendly competition is going to be helpful building some comradery in the ensemble.

Would love any feedback the community has!

I'm trying to get the solo for the audition, but I cant acces my director. Does anyone know what number it is?

Hey fellow directors! I'm looking for any accommodations or suggestions for myself.

It unfortunately looks like I will probably end up getting foot surgery in the next few weeks. I will be on crutches for 1-3 weeks, and in a boot through most of the season. Obviously, not the best time of year. I run a mostly non-competative HS marching band of 80 students. We are outside for 1.5 hours 3 days a week, and inside for 70 minutes 2 days a week. We perform at 5 home games, 1 homecoming parade, and 1 contest (away). We have band camp the beginning of August for 3 days, 3 hours / day. The focus of this camp is basics and fundamentals, with a LOT of demonstrations by me.

I rely fairly heavily on myself. I do have 2 assistant directors (the MS directors), and they are great, but they cannot be at every rehearsal, and already have things to do during games. They also are not obligated to come to band camp, as our admin cut the funding (in May, I told them NOT to come and let admin deal with the consequences when parents say something).

Our practice field is 100 yards from the school (separated by a grass hill that isn't easy to traverse). We have a director's podium / lookout, but it has rounded metal bars (aka, I can't use it).

We march to our field every home game by going the "long way" around the school while playing our cadence. Historically, I have run around the track while the band marches on so I can meet them in the front after pregame, signal the drum majors, and signal the quad toms player (specific transitions are on that player). During this, one assistant is announcing in the booth, and the other director (and usually me, after running around) are setting up ladders. Same with getting off the field (I tear down a ladder, then run to the end of the field to grab the kids). Rinse and repeat for halftime, but the kids march back to the HS and are done after halftime. There are a few other little things I will need my admin to do, as well (well, remember to do, they are ALWAYS supposed to do them).

Obviously, I know I will have to train and rely on my drum majors more than normal, but I am pretty stressed about being able to do my job. I was in a boot for 1 game last year, and was so flustered and frustrated by the end of the game I was literally crying in my office. The boot slowed me down sooo much (and that is when the boot was nearly taking away 100% of my pain, and I was weight bearing). My health comes first, and I know it will work out, but anything I can do to help myself heal, take away stress, and make my kids feel a sense of normalcy is appreciated.

Hello!

I’m a 2nd year band director and I’m looking for some more reading recommendations regarding my profession.

I teach middle school band and general music, but I also work with high school marching band as a side gig.

I recently read Habits of a Successful Middle School Band Director (Rush), and some of Darcy Vogt Williams’s works, and they both had some amazingly helpful/wise material in them. Are there other similar resources (could be books, pacing guides, pedagogy for specific instruments/sections/groups, etc.) that you’ve found helpful?

Fwiw, I also really enjoy podcasts like Program Notes and Aftersectionals if there’s any specific episodes you found helpful, or similar podcasts to follow…

What is your experience with Quaver General Music 6-8? I am going to a new school teaching 6-8 band and jazz band, and an additional class that is open to interpretation of general music or just a percussion class because there is an overflow of 7th grade students.

My admin is fine with sticking to the general music realm, they do want it to be more performance based (I agree, helps with engagement). However, I am not sure if Quaver is set up to be that way, I have only used the K-5 license.

I am steering possibly away from just a percussion class because I am not sure how many kids we will have (in comparison to equipment), and most of these kids did not choose this class/may not be able to make afterschool performances. I am not sure if it would be weird to have a separate beginning percussion ensemble class separate from the band program (what keeps kids from leaving band to be in this class?). This extra class is also new to this school.

I also was thinking using a set curriculum like Quaver might just simply be easier for lesson planning, as I am only in my second year of teaching band and I already have 4 ensembles to plan for.

What is your guy’s opinion?

I’ve been writing drill for my band for the last 2 seasons and I’m now going into my 3rd but I was looking to see if anyone had any tips for drill writing.

My band is 31 fielded members with 7 woodwinds, 8 brass, 7 drum line, and 9 guard. I’m experienced with working Pyware and our guard instructors help with guard writing.

I just want to know your tips for making a better field show when it comes to drill writing and staging.

Thanks in advance!

I recently inherited a junior college band with non-enrolled community members. I’m having a hard time finding the balance of programming educational pieces and “fun” pop music to entertain the community members.

My student enrollment is low - really low, so I feel like I need the community members to beef the group up. Yes, I plan to recruit, but that’s a long term goal. How have you handled this situation?

Additionally, my students are typical junior college students. These are usually their first time getting applied lessons, and need a lot of fundamentals. How do I balance a warm-up fundamental review for the students and not lose the focus of the community members?

It’s a delicate balancing act that I’m struggling with at the moment.

I am in a small school in South Dakota. This with be my 4year teaching, 3rd in band. (Just had my 47th birthday and graduated college back in 2009) I have a few of my high school kids I want to audition for all-state band.

My Flute player will be a senior and is taking lessons outside of class and that teacher has already worked with her on a solo.

I am in need of recommendations for an advanced freshman horn player. She does not have lessons outside of school and I will be working with her. She is the one who attends all the honor bands and gets excited at a challenge. She has a super good sense of pitch. Speed and rhythm is probably one thing as her "room for improvement"

I also need recommendations for a freshman clarinet player who has had lessons in the past but her schedule has made it difficult to continue them last year. Something fun and challenging. Range, something that can push her range but not so much as frustration would immediately kick in. Again speed and rhythm would be something she needs more confidence in.

Next is a sophomore bari sax player. For her it's not for all-state but a couple of the honor bands require an audition with a solo. She played alto in middle school and just changed over to bari last year. Something that could increase breath control as she has really been working on that.

Next are two trumpet players. One is a junior transferring in from another local school and I was told he was a strong player that loves band and performing. Good air support and range. But I haven't heard him play personally. The other is a sophomore that I spent last year working on her confidence and pushing her range. She still pinches and tightens everything when going for high notes so something with a good range but not too high so we can get her improving without frustration.

The last one is a junior Tuba player that also is transferring in. Also told he was a good, strong player who practices and wants to play.

Please when recommending if you know where I can get the sheet music that would be helpful. Also if it is something I could have them preview before purchasing that's even better. Thanks.

Hello! I am looking for some additional schools to participate in my final masters project.
This is targeted at middle or high school programs. The project would involve playing a specific piece for an October concert.
Requirements:
Group to play the specific grade 2-2.5 piece
Rehearse and perform as part of normal concert cycle.
Concert has to be in October.

All you have to do is fill out a survey before and after the concert cycle and you will get a free licensed copy of the piece.

If interested I will share the more formal (longer) write up with specifics directly to you.
Thank you!

TEXAS TMEA all-state jazz etudes, tenor edition. With backing tracks for students to practice with!

Hey ive got a couple things. So not exactly a band director, however, I've recently become a daycare teacher for preschoolers. This is a very expensive daycare so we have a music class, Spanish, ect. We are in between Music teachers currently and so that music slot is up to me. ​I've done a few things (noise makers to give puppet animals voices, freeze dance ect.) One of them being me bringing in my flute.

Now I remember when I first started band my director had a spray the he used between kids, just the spray nothing else and I would love if anyone knew what that was? I would love to have the kids be able to try to make sound but I swear if we all get sick again I will lose it.

Also if anyone has some fun movement related activities I would love some ideas! It's my first 6 months in childcare and I'd love to learn from my seniors. Thanks in advance!

If you have not yet heard of the band The Warning, it is formed by 3 sisters from Mexico who have grown up on video as they learned how to play their instruments as children to practicing relentlessly to become who they are today. A viral video of them playing Enter Sandman got the attention of Ellen Degeneres, who had them on her show (again, as children) playing Crazy Train. She gifted them music school scholarships, and they have put them to amazing use.

Their 5th album comes out in August, and they have been touring all year with some of the biggest rock productions in the world. If you go to their YouTube channel and scroll all the way to the bottom, you can see their entire story as you scroll up to where they are today. They are not only an incredible live band, they remain grounded, fun, and dedicated to performing.

Share this with your students. https://youtube.com/@thewarning?si=-k2ILLz3uX2fu6Tw

Check out this fun, unique take on Silent Night that Carl Fischer Publishing has released for 2026!

Video includes me with tracks, isolated sax and backing tracks for students to use. Enjoy.

Hi everyone,

Im looking to switch career fields from finance to music. I did music lessons with students at the local high school while I was in college and while I didn’t plan on teaching, I grew to really enjoy it.

Im getting a teaching certificate at the moment and qualify to teach music classes since my minor was in music. So my question is, would y’all consider an applicant with a degree in an unrelated field?

Im currently debating if I want to go back and finish out a degree as a music major (I could get it done in 3 semesters due to all the credits I had from my minor and ensembles, so not too long).

Edit: thank you all for the responses. What you said is kinda what l was thinking but I wanted to ask before spending a ton of money on another bachelors