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The Army's music is a source for several beneficial resources. You can find upcoming performances for all of the bands to find a performance closes to you. These bands include the active bands, Army Reserve Bands, National Guard bands, and the U.S. Army School of Music Band. Each band will also have smaller ensembles such as jazz bands and rock bands. The site also has recordings of the Army band performing some traditional ceremonial songs including marches, fanfares, and even bugle calls that are found on the music tab. This is very beneficial if you are are trying to perform a patriotic show or performing for the school's JROTC programs. There are pages for the National Anthem and The Army Song that provides the history of the songs as well as the lyrics and recordings. You can click on the songs titles to download mp3 files. The education tab is great because it has a list of U.S. Army Music Master Classes for every instrument and covers a wide range of topics. From basics and fundamentals to practicing to percussion. Master classes are added periodically. When you click on the title of the master class, a PDF will download. You can also request for a clinicians, clinic teams, master classes, or guest conductors to come out to your school. The only expense you might have to pay is for travel expenses if they are not in the area.

The Army's music is a source for several beneficial resources. You can find upcoming performances for all of the bands to find a performance closes to you. These bands include the active bands, Army Reserve Bands, National Guard bands, and the U.S. Army School of Music Band. Each band will also have smaller ensembles such as jazz bands and rock bands. The site also has recordings of the Army band performing some traditional ceremonial songs including marches, fanfares, and even bugle calls that are found on the music tab. This is very beneficial if you are are trying to perform a patriotic show or performing for the school's JROTC programs. There are pages for the National Anthem and The Army Song that provides the history of the songs as well as the lyrics and recordings. You can click on the songs titles to download mp3 files. The education tab is great because it has a list of U.S. Army Music Master Classes for every instrument and covers a wide range of topics. From basics and fundamentals to practicing to percussion. Master classes are added periodically. When you click on the title of the master class, a PDF will download. You can also request for a clinicians, clinic teams, master classes, or guest conductors to come out to your school. The only expense you might have to pay is for travel expenses if they are not in the area.

From the Top is an NPR program that features kids who have achieved an extremely high level of performance. There are many videos of student performances. It could be great for students to see kids their age performing advanced music.

From the Top is the video series that highlights young performers. This website houses the more recent streaming videos, sharing the performers' stories and their performances on the stage. These videos are great resources for the classroom as they highlight young performers on all instruments and a variety of genres. See specifically PBS's section on From the Top for earlier seasons and lesson plans.

This website is sponsored by the PBR. You have access to videos and podcasts about classical music and many other music topics. This would be a great resource for middle school and high student performers.

A blog I love dedicated to thoughts on the performing musician. Great resource with approaches to use as an individual performer and information to present to students.

Dr. Noa Kageyama is a sport and performance psychologist with a music background.  He provides very interesting and introspective articles to help people improve themselves as people and performers, and offers a course to teach you how to overcome performance anxiety.  Great resource for people who struggle with performing.

How To Overcome Stage Fright & Performance Anxiety

Wynn Literature is a site I found a few years ago as I was looking for music for my high school Intermediate Band to play for the Georgia Music Educators Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation (concert festival). The band I had one year was unprepared to play most Grade 4 Literature and I needed help choosing Grade 2 or 3 pieces. Wynn created this list of compositions that are on the GMEA LGPE required list. It is important to double check the most current LGPE list as the list is updated yearly. The compositions are written by composers whose works have been deemed to be "Contemporary Concert Band Standards" as they have the best mix of challenging the students as well as entertaining. Some of the composers include James Swearingen, Quincy Hilliard Robert W. Smith, David R. Holsinger, and James Curnow just to name a few. The site has changed a lot since I originally found it. You were able to click on the individual compositions to get more information about the piece such as key signature, meter, performance ranges for most of the instruments, technical issues that may occur (difficult rhythms or harmonies), background on the composer and historical perspective of the composition. Since the site's links do not work anymore, WynnLiterature is a great starting point to search for literature to play at the middle school level as well as the lower/developmental bands in high school.

Wynn Literature is a site I found a few years ago as I was looking for music for my high school Intermediate Band to play for the Georgia Music Educators Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation (concert festival). The band I had one year was unprepared to play most Grade 4 Literature and I needed help choosing Grade 2 or 3 pieces. Wynn created this list of compositions that are on the GMEA LGPE required list. It is important to double check the most current LGPE list as the list is updated yearly. The compositions are written by composers whose works have been deemed to be "Contemporary Concert Band Standards" as they have the best mix of challenging the students as well as entertaining. Some of the composers include James Swearingen, Quincy Hilliard Robert W. Smith, David R. Holsinger, and James Curnow just to name a few. The site has changed a lot since I originally found it. You were able to click on the individual compositions to get more information about the piece such as key signature, meter, performance ranges for most of the instruments, technical issues that may occur (difficult rhythms or harmonies), background on the composer and historical perspective of the composition. Since the site's links do not work anymore, WynnLiterature is a great starting point to search for literature to play at the middle school level as well as the lower/developmental bands in high school.

Wynn Literature is a site I found a few years ago as I was looking for music for my high school Intermediate Band to play for the Georgia Music Educators Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation (concert festival). The band I had one year was unprepared to play most Grade 4 Literature and I needed help choosing Grade 2 or 3 pieces. Wynn created this list of compositions that are on the GMEA LGPE required list. It is important to double check the most current LGPE list as the list is updated yearly. The compositions are written by composers whose works have been deemed to be "Contemporary Concert Band Standards" as they have the best mix of challenging the students as well as entertaining. Some of the composers include James Swearingen, Quincy Hilliard Robert W. Smith, David R. Holsinger, and James Curnow just to name a few. The site has changed a lot since I originally found it. You were able to click on the individual compositions to get more information about the piece such as key signature, meter, performance ranges for most of the instruments, technical issues that may occur (difficult rhythms or harmonies), background on the composer and historical perspective of the composition. Since the site's links do not work anymore, WynnLiterature is a great starting point to search for literature to play at the middle school level as well as the lower/developmental bands in high school.

This is the US Army Field Band's youtube channel.  It contains a series of educational videos that are beneficial to students and teachers.  Topics include performance strategies, instrument repair, and performance videos.

This is the US Army Field Band's youtube channel.  It contains a series of educational videos that are beneficial to students and teachers.  Topics include performance strategies, instrument repair, and performance videos.

This website has the purpose of gaining knowledge on saxophone musicians, and ways to practice, listen, and fine tune the sound one makes. It has articles and techniques that are meant to give saxophonists needed guidance on history, ways to improve performance, and how to perform with different styles. This site includes different genres or saxophone performance, such as classical, jazz, be bop, rock and blues, and regae. There are other links for purchasing music, mouthpieces, saxophones, and practice books.

What a great resource site for music recordings! Our student computers block YouTube, thus this site will be great for my students who wish to research and listen to new music. Currently, a second grade "reading" group will be writing biographies of composers, and I want them to be able to listen to their compositions.

This website offers free music streams and downloads. This is all royalty free music which makes the streams and downloads completely legal and free. The site allows you to search by composer, performer, period, form, and numerous other ways.

A great resource for obtaining recordings of your favorite classical composers. All music is royalty free and can be used in the classroom. Also, the recordings are organized by composer, performer, instrument, form and time period

League of American Orchestras is a site for educators, professional musicians and students can explore. Teachers can look at advocacy and the government to find out what is happening in legislation. There is a career center for teachers and professional musicians who are looking to perform. Everyone can learn about Learning and Leadership development of students and teachers. The Knowledge, Research and Innovation tab is great as it is the latest research happening. You can also find conferences, meetings, journals, conducting, composing and performing tab.

This site is a great resource for orchestra teachers. The purpose of this resource is to provide information about the current state of music programs and opportunities for orchestral students. The content of this site is mainly articles and registration links for different conferences. There are also links to webinars, fellowships, etc. as well as current issues revolving around orchestral music/education. Some sources particularly helpful for teachers are a link with interesting facts about orchestra and articles about how to reach out to bigger audiences. It offers a subscription for "Symphony" Magazine and provdes information about composing, conducting, and performing, all major elements or any music education program.

This website has resources for orchestra students. Students can find practice and performance tips, learn about local and famous orchestras and musicians, and find resources for their specific instruments.

Best Practices for Children's Choir is a podcast with Matthew Parker discussing his best practices when working with a children's choir. The discussion content ranges from choosing music to engaging in warm-ups. Matthew also shares his favorite octavos, composers/arrangers, warm-ups, and tips when choosing music. This is very useful information and a great resource to use when working with your elementary and/or middle school choir.

Podcast and synopsis of best practices for children's choir. I want to reference this if the world works my way and places me in an elementary school next year.

In this blog post, Bernadette describes the scenarios and performing experiences she has provided for her students. She focuses on the aspect of student confidence and how performance can build confidence.

Music performance anxiety is something that troubles many musicians from students all the way up to adults.  There are many coping skills and techniques that can help with this anxiety.  One of the most common techniques is the Alexander Technique, which is talked about in this article.

Meeting of practice goals more important than just measuring time spent

From the Top is a PBS series that features young performers on the Carnegie Hall stage. Each clip includes background and an interview with Christopher O'Riley (host and sometimes piano accompanist). There are representations of almost every major instrument in band and orchestra as well as vocalists, choral ensembles, pianists, and guitarists. The young performers have selected pieces in a variety of styles and some have amazing background stories, including an Olympic skater and one about the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The website also includes podcasts and a section for teachers that includes lesson plans to incorporate along with each episode. Clicking on From the Top at the bottom of the page gets you to more recent streaming videos from the show at fromthetop.org

Websites for Kids offers links to variety of sites that include performer-based, symphony-based, music game/theory/history/listening, teacher and other resources. Included in some of the links are resources that include games, aural training, music theory/history, composition, music technology, and audit/video about performances. This is a motivating site for learners to engage in a variety of activities.

Allows you to watch performances from different angles in order to see the conductor and different instrumentalists. Allows for a unique view of an orchestra where you can be up close to the people playing in a way that the full view of an orchestra doesn't allow. The interactive nature of being able to change camera angles is also engaging, and would get students interested in seeing the different facets of a whole symphonic performance.

This is a link to the midwest clinic. This website provides programs from all of the past performances at the clinic. This provides great ideas on repertoire for ensembles at all levels.

The purpose of this blog is to collaborate with other musicians about issues dealing with performance, creativity, developing ones career, and (most importantly) technology. There are blogs that allow readers to interact with each with the objective being to gain perspective on other musicians point of views. The blogs includes monthly newsletters, different tags for information such as performance anxiety and music career guidance, benefits on recording music, how to practice with a positive mental attitude, and how to talk to audiences as well as how to not talk to them. This information is for the public to view and gain insight on their goal towards becoming a better musician and educator.

Well structured practice is the key to improvement

Great article on using technology strategies in performing ensembles

Another document from Dr. William Bauer about making music with an iPad created by Dr. William Bauer for the International Society for Technology in Education on June 24, 2013. A tremendous resource for creating performing, understanding and responding to music with an iPad. Also, there are links for general administrative and productivity apps which are useful for other academic disciplines.  Additionally, there is a lot of information that is useful about hardware and connecting the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. Great resource for using iPads in the music classroom, which is what is needed for me personally. 

This document comes from a Learning Station Session presented by Dr. William Bauer for the International Society for Technology in Education. The session centered around apps and tools that can be used on the iPad that match the music standards of creating, responding, and performing. The site contains a full list of apps and tools available for the iPad and they help make the iPad a music learning tool. 

Dr. Bauer provides a comprehensive list of programs and apps for the Ipad that can be used in the music classroom. These apps can provide ways to create music and transform the Ipad into an actual musical instrument. Dr. Bauer creates lists separated into apps that will create music, perform music, help with understanding music, ease administration, and other resources. This list cannot only help integrate technology into the classroom, but also show music in a different light.