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Minute Clinic – Larry’s Top 10 Arranging Tips
Whether you want to learn how to arrange for your ensemble, or just want to improve your arranging skills, here are my top 10 arranging tips and tricks to think about. Of course, these can and should be considered when composing your own music as well. In my opinion, all good arranging in my opinion…
Read MoreSo You Want to Be a Published Composer?
If you have ever wanted to be a published composer, then this blog is for you. Larry Clark takes you through step by step on how to get your music noticed by a publisher.
Read MoreMinute Clinic – Learning From The Past
I’m not sure this qualifies as a clinic or not, but I wanted to share a recent experience that gave me such a boost of excitement for music education, and the legacy we all contribute to as music teachers. I was commissioned to write a march to honor a band-directing icon in the state of…
Read MoreMinute Clinic – How Do You Select Quality Music?
The beauty of music is that there is something for everyone. What one person thinks is the greatest piece ever written could be the most annoying piece for someone else. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that axiom is never more apparent than in the selection of literature for…
Read MoreMinute Clinic – Rehearsal Etitquette
When you think of rehearsal etiquette, what comes to mind? Is it discipline? Is it procedural? Is it behavioral? It is certainly all of the above! As conductors, we have an image in our minds of what makes a great rehearsal and how we imagine our students acting during this ideal session. Have you expressed…
Read MoreMinute Clinic – The 10 Re’s of Summer
As we all launch headfirst into the summer with Independence Day around the corner, I ask a simple question – what are you doing this summer to get yourself ready for school in the fall? Make sure to do these 10 things: Rest – Take time for yourself this summer, with some much needed mental and…
Read MoreMinute Clinic – Conduct More By Conducting Less!
In my travels around the country, I get to see a lot of conductors of bands and orchestras. There are some really good ones, and some not so good ones. What has always mystified me is that we spend years practicing and taking lessons on our chosen instrument to demonstrate our musical skills, but most…
Read MoreMinute Clinic – Is Getting A Superior Rating at Festival the Goal?
Most ensembles by now have completed their yearly adjudicated performance. Did you get the rating you wanted? Did you get the educational feedback you needed? Does it really matter? These are important questions to ask yourself as you reflect on the year. Many states these days have changed the name of their festivals to MPA,…
Read MoreMinute Clinic – Skype Your Way To A Better Band!
Technology is a wonderful thing. There are now countless ways we can use it to improve the quality of our programs. There is everything from tuners to metronomes to all kinds of apps for our phones and tablets. Technology gives us instant access to a wealth of information on the internet that can also be…
Read MoreMinute Clinic – Is Attending A Convention Really Worth It?
As I prepare to attend the annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago next week, I feel compelled to talk about the purpose and usefulness of conventions on our development as music educators. Just like anything else in life, you only get out of a convention what you put into it. If you choose to skip every…
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