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"What is Jazz?" is a four-part lecture about jazz by Dr. Billy Taylor presented at the John F. Kennedy Center. Dr. Bill Taylor is a noted jazz pianist, historian, and educator. His four-part lecture dives into the history of jazz and the most important moments of jazz history. The first lecture centers around the origins of jazz in the African-American experience of slavery to the civil rights movement. This lecture explores the development of repertoire and techniques used in jazz performance. The second lecture discusses the techniques and traditions of jazz improvisation. The third lecture discusses the evolution of swing and rhythm/harmony with the inclusion of examples by a piano. The fourth lecture discusses the role of jazz in American culture and history, as well as the impact it has had on the world. 

This is a discussion by New York Times columnist, David Brooks, and Kathy Fletcher, and the director of Turnaround Arts Initiative about the important work that Turnaround Arts does through the strategic use of the arts. The discussion talks about how music facilitates brain development, why certain things in music leave people fascinated, and what magic music brings to emotion. The discussion also unfolds how the arts, and music education in particular opens the student's mind to memorisation. David Brooks says "Students understand better when topics are introduced through music". I agree with that because most students become more alert when a topic is introduced through song and it fosters the interest of students. Therefore we need arts to succeed in education. A lot of artists came from struggling backgrounds so when they talk to children that would like to succeed in the music world but are frightened that they'll never make it, they tell them "I know what you are going through but you can make it". This encourages those children to push on and excel in the arts. Kathy Fletcher says music boosts critical thinking and confidence which is ideal for students and they end up excelling in all other fields. The arts connect us all through music in a way that music created is shared all around the world. Partnerships are created to perform music and people come together to listen to music. This makes us one.

Good, active discussion board on all things violin. Many of the threads have implications for private and group string instruction.

The Texas Band Directors' go-to spot for discussion of current events in Texas music education

The Texas Band Directors' go-to spot for discussion of current events in Texas music education

This page was authored by Arthur Lehman who played euphonium in the President's Own U.S. Marine Band. The page discusses intonation issues facing wind bands. The purpose is to discuss causes of poor intonation and it also provides some diagnostic information. The page also contains links to professional recordings of euphonium players which could serve as a valuable resource to young low brass musicians. 

This video discusses sound and vibration using music as a source. I use this with my first graders when we start discussing sound.

This article discusses many things but directly makes the point that the quality of music in schools has decreased. It disuses the fact that marching band is a key component of a musicians life. It also discusses the 'nuts and blots" of being a band director and the preparation that needs to take place.

This article discusses the positive and negative impact music can have on a person's emotional state. The article mentions and describes three of the seven categories that individuals use to regulate their mood. It also discusses how music can impact the brain and its functioning abilities.

This podcast is hosted by three middle school band directors in Texas. They conduct their podcast in between classes, and they discuss the ins and outs of band in their middle school classes. They provide several resources to use in sectional classes in middle school band and offer advice.

This website is for a podcast I have been listening to for a few years. The podcast is very interesting an informative. It give a different perspective on teaching band. Though I don't teach in a similar situation, things can be applied to my situation.

This podcast covers three band directors that all work in the same middle school. This discuss all different types of things but it is interesting to listen to how the three work together with their different classes. I have listen to this podcast in the past and their are even times she records her lessons with her students.

This podcast has multiple band directors that discuss all things marching band. They cover BOA, DCI, and your normal high school marching band. They usually bring on guest that discussion a specific item.

This is a very interesting website. I wouldn't let my classes "roam free" during class but as a teacher resource, relevant songs could be brought up and discussed as a class. Students could submit a song request and the teacher could preview ahead of time the appropriateness of discussing it's history.

This site helps build rubrics used for assessments.  You can design your own rubrics for playing tests, performances and projects.

This is a website that links to various rubric-creating formats, designed to save educators time and effort in making more visually-appealing assessment tools. There is a brief article that discusses the benefits of implementing a rubric in assessment, and there are multiple links to other articles that discuss the pros and cons of utilizing rubrics at various levels of education. Within the initial article are 25 different formats, some more topic-specific than others, to generate rubrics with pictures and descriptions. It is easy to use and much more efficient than creating a rubric from scratch.

Black Violin shares the influence music education had on their lives. This podcast discusses how art and music education introduces students to perspectives that they would not necessarily come across in their upbringing. They also discuss balancing classical music with music that is culturally relevant to the students and how classical music needs to be more inclusive to bridge the gap. This is especially relevant in my urban teaching environment. 

Article about the difference of school based music and music that students listen to out of the classroom. Music educators need to learn from this difference and use more contemporary music to interest more students.

This is a great article about the disconnect between music we teach in school and the music our students listen to. This discusses ways to help make music meaningful for all students.

This article discusses the "real" issue that classically trained music teachers face in trying to engage students in music; holding classical and/or jazz up as the "legitimate" forms of musical, or recognizing the value of the music that students listen to and enjoy in their daily lives.

This blog discuss ways teachers can help students understand material that they man not comprehend during a lesson. This is extremely helpful when your are not getting the necessary feedback from students.

An article that discusses finer points in the "Art" of teaching; when students don't grasp a concept. Is it always the teachers fault? Can the student be doing anything differently to help on their end? This article has possible solutions!

This website discusses the neurological benefits of practice. These benefits may come in handy in conversations with parents and administrators.

This website discusses the neurological benefits of practice. These benefits may come in handy in conversations with parents and administrators.

Tayloe Harding is the Dean of Music at the University of South Carolina. This passionate discussion of the hope that music evokes is inspiring for teachers and students alike.

Music K-8 is a popular site among elementary/middle school classroom music teachers. The popular magazine is full of great ideas, music, games, articles, and musical performance programs. A very useful aspect of the website is the "Idea Bank" which is located in the Resources tab. Subscribing to the idea bank list allows music teachers to instantly interact, discuss, and share with colleagues across the nation. The diverse wealth of resources available here are sure to be helpful in every kindergarten through 8th grade music class.

This site has everything tuba. You can find instruments for sale, audition dates, and general discussions. This is a great tool to help students find out which schools have tuba openings and what types of scholarships they offer. Also you can help students who are in the market for a used instrument find potential deals.

This articles contains thoughts on developing rules and procedures in the beginning band classroom. It discusses possible tactics to get the most out of your beginning band students.

This articles contains thoughts on developing rules and procedures in the beginning band classroom. It discusses possible tactics to get the most out of your beginning band students.