r/banddirector

One of the things I do when I'm handing out music is decide who gets to play what percussion part. I'm not a percussionist, but I always imagined that getting stuck with Bass Drum or Triangle or Suspended Cymbal ("boring" aux parts) on every song would make me want to quit band. I'd jump at the chance to play the snare or a complex aux part, but I don't want to hog it on every song.

As the director, I try to pass the parts around, give everyone a chance to play snare drum or something similar, and avoid having one person play the same instrument too many times on one concert. Sometimes that means doubling the snare part to allow a weaker player to try it without risking the success of the whole group. But sometimes I don't have a way to let everybody do it, and now it's the week of the concert and I'm realizing one kid is playing bass drum on 3 out of 4 songs, another is playing nothing but triangle and bass drum, and I wonder if anyone else has the same issues?

Am I overreacting? Do some percussionists not mind playing bass drum all the time? Is there a better way to hand out parts? Edit: I teach 5th-12th band in a small school, only one HS group, no marching band.

Composer here, mostly coming from an orchestral/chamber background, only recently starting to write for concert band.  I'm considering putting together recordings of individual parts (just MIDI at this point) for recently completed pieces of mine. I know some publishers have done this sort of thing before, but I'm not sure how much directors and students actually find them useful vs. just ignoring them.

So...do these practice recordings get used? If so, are they more helpful at certain levels (middle school vs. high school vs. college)? Are there formats or features that make them more or less useful (play-along vs. isolated part, slower tempo, etc.)? Any strong opinions either way?

Appreciate any insight. Happy to learn more about how things actually work in the band world.

Hey Y'all! I have a smaller kiddo who will be learning the quints (tenor drums, quads, whatever you want to call them - my students have always said quints since before I got there). The student is so excited, and super capable, so I want to give them some advice to make her successful. She is a very small kid, probably 5' 2" and 80-90 lbs and we have Yamaha Field Corps Tenor Drums (8400, I think) with Randall May Harnesses. She is an incredibly dedicated kid, lifts weights, and is athletic, but I still worry about the heavy weight of the drums. Any ideas on how to help her build up the back strength, how to handle the drums, or harness adjustments? Is there anything else I should do to help her be successful? I am not able to get any other drums, and this is the best kid to put on the Tenors, so I just want advice on how to help her be successful! We do have back braces, but the kids rarely use them (so I may encourage that more heavily next year for everyone), but I am not sure whate else to do. Thank you!!

Hello!

I recently came across a piece by Robert Sheldon called "Glorious revolution" it seems epic and great. I've always wanted to do a combined piece with all three of the bands we have across our campuses. This piece seems to have parts at three different grade levels, 4, 2.5 and 1. Which is great.

I want to keep looking though before deciding, do you know any other pieces like this? I know standridge has one but it's Christmas themed and unfortunately our concert is not that time of year. Something fun that isn't specific to a season or anything.

Thanks so much!

Hi all, I’m looking for composers looking to partner on some shows. I am looking to expand the business and building a portfolio.
Soon to come is a website and personal out reach to market these shows

We do not deal with any music rights, so arrangements are public domain and original compositions

If you are:
-A wind and brass composer
-A front ensemble composer
Id love to talk with you!

- we don’t need a battery only writer

We are currently just using musescore.
You’ll need to be able to write with partners.
You’ll need be responsible for making the sheet music nice and presentable at the end, but I can show you how to do that in a very easy way.

Ps. I have shows already written and am open for custom arrangements.
If you want samples as a writer looking for a partner, or a director dm me and I can send samples.

So, I know this is not an orchestra thread, but as a former band hall rat who just survived year 1 of teaching orchestra (first job that opened up to me), I’m in the process of shutting it down for the year. I was wondering what all I need to be looking for when it comes to instrument repairs (how to find open seams, cracks in instruments to flag them for repair. That sort of thing) and resources on this.

Hello!

TL;DR - what procedures do you implement or use to help kids actually show up on time and ready for class, and to follow directions the first time they're given.

Context: I teach in Japan, so we start school in April. So we are about a month into the year, and have not learned a song yet. It's not beginning band, so the students can play (mostly). But they lack fundamentals like posture, breathing, etc.

I am having some issues with my current 7th graders and looking for possible solutions. The main issues are fundamental behavior problems, none of them musical, but because of them we can't get anything done. Part of it is the sheer number of students doing these things. The class is 43 kids. Is say about 10-15 of them fall into this category.

Some examples of things that have happened.

1. Class starts, I say "hold up your pencil" and 15 or so students hold up nothing. We then wait for them to go get their stuff. Then I ask "ok hold up your music book" and the same thing repeats itself. This wasted almost half the class. What they need for class never changes AND it's always written on the board. Yet every single class students don't have what they need.

2. At the start of class there is a timer on the board and students are expected to be set up and ready by the time it ends. There's always students talking and playing up until the timer goes off at which point they come to their seats, again we all have to wait for these students.

3. I've had multiple instances of students shouting out a question while I'm teaching and then saying "thank you" and just going to do what they asked before I even answer. Every time this happens I make them sit back down and call them out for being disrespectful.

4. Just general small things, when I ask students to stand up, a group doesn't, when I ask students to sing, they don't, when I ask them to play, they don't, when I ask them to breathe etc.

The expectations are clear, I know this because there's also an equally large group (larger even) of students who are in their seat completely ready before the bell even rings. I give them 5 minutes from when the bell rings to be ready with all of their things.

Every year I always struggle at the start of the year, getting everyone to do things. The kids typically think they can get away with doing nothing. But in years past by this point in the year students finally get it and stop trying to do nothing. I understand it takes time for them to understand my expectations, but it's never taken this long. Usually within a few weeks of constant reminders they understand that they need to be silent when we make music, and need to be ready, and follow directions the first time.

Do you have any advice. In the past I have not had this much of a problem. This group (I've heard from other teachers) needs extra help and individual support it seems so any strategies you have used please share! I want to give them the education they deserve.

Hello! I’m currently a junior in high school, but I’m interested going into the music education field, specifically with an instrumental focus, and was wondering how teaching in big cities is? I’m from a small PA town so I’m used to how programs run in this setting, but I’m interested in teaching in a city like NYC or Philly.

I’m also wondering how marching bands and indoor groups are done in the city, as well. Literally any tips help, I’m just curious and trying to think ahead in life lol. Thank you!