There is much discussion about incorporating more social-emotional learning (SEL) in schools during the next school year. Music class is certainly one...
There’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the upcoming 250th
anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birthday in December 2020. Numerous
special events are planned...
Dr. Alice Hammel remembers when Vinnie started school. He had frequent outbursts and struggled throughout most of his elementary school years; eventually, he was...
It never failed. Late November into December, when my performing groups were approaching the final stages of concert preparation, one or more students would...
Summer can be a welcome break from the usual school-year routine and offers some unique opportunities for your private piano students. No school (or...
Music directors are busy people. One of our great joys at Cut Time is getting to know directors and learning about their programs. Here are 10 things directors say help them have a more successful school year: 1. Eliminate surprise. Set calendar reminders to prepare for upcoming concerts and other events. Work a little bit ahead to avoid compounded stress around performance time.
Over a period of two years, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) has strengthened its partnership with an exciting program that is building...
There are many moving parts involved in managing music ensembles. Between keeping track of inventory, communicating with students and parents, coordinating volunteers, planning trips,...
Like many other teachers, I have been exposed to learning management systems (LMSs) through professional development, online courses and even some face-to-face coursework. Early...
Choosing the right accessories for your ensemble can be tricky, especially on a budget. Some accessories can greatly affect the overall sound and efficacy...
In March, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and music associations across the nation celebrate Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM). It is...
Every spring, orchestra teachers anticipate getting next year’s rosters. They give a good indication of the instrumentation they'll be working with in the coming...
Pepper's ePrint service is getting even better, and we can’t wait to share the improvements with our customers. Since its introduction, ePrint has grown in popularity...
In 2012 Pennsylvania piloted a new teacher evaluation program called the Teacher Effectiveness System. By 2014, every district in the Commonwealth was using this...
Performance planning is rarely the highlight of any music director’s season. Designing your concert may be enjoyable in itself, but the stress that comes...
In this installment of Capturing Your Concert: Simple Tips for Recording, we are going take a look at handheld recorders which are designed specifically...
Much has been written about recruitment and retention for music programs. With the uptick in access to social media, there are even more opportunities...
Don’t let this happen to you! Pepper File-Finder Boxes make organizing your music easy.
Order a Library Starter Kit and we’ll send you:
100 File-Finder...
Any director, music teacher, or private instructor can tell you that it is impossible to get everything done during rehearsal time. Especially with larger...
In Part 1 we discussed practical considerations in choosing repertoire, such as the makeup of your performing group and the expectations of your intended...
Of the responsibilities that music teachers have, perhaps one of the most challenging is that of finding and choosing quality repertoire. With the amount...
The new liturgical year is fast approaching and church choirs across the nation are preparing for Advent and the Christmas season. For choir directors,...
With marching band season gearing up once again, directors find themselves looking to their flock of students in search of that indispensible percentage that...
How many singers and/or singing groups actually take time to practice microphone technique? http://www.vocalist.org.uk offers some great tips and advice for performers who want...
One of the highlights of the holiday season is enjoying one of the many music programs that add so much to the season. While attending one such holiday...
I was pleasantly surprised to come across Carmine Caruso’s Musical Calisthenics for Brass in our online database. I studied trombone with Carmine from 1968...
An important part of choosing the right microphone is considering its directionality, or pick-up pattern. Have you ever noticed when singing or speaking into...
-This post was updated in January 2019.
Definition: Microphone -- or mic -- converts acoustic energy into electrical energy, resulting in an audio signal.
Rather than...
For the college bound, after months of careful research wading through hundreds of brochures and catalogs, numerous discussions with your private teacher, band or choral...
