Program Health

"It's sad that music has been cut from our public schools" is a sentiment that, unfortunately, is heard all too often these days. But I'm happy to report that the winds are changing. 

In 2016, the wind ensemble at Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee, performed on the main stage at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. 

As music teachers, we often focus on the aspects of program development that we can directly control — what and how we teach. 

UPDATE JANUARY 28, 2021: We are excited to announce that David Cutler, Serona Elton, Donny Gruendler, Jeffrey Nytch, Pamela Pike, Stan Renard and Omar Thomas are the newest members of the esteemed Yamaha Master Educator Collective. 

Michael Pote, an award-winning band director and highly sought-after speaker, clearly demonstrates that success in a large, high-profile program stems from understanding and utilizing the strengths of everyone involved.

The best recruiters for music programs are our current students. When re­taining music students from middle and elementary schools, your current students serve as the best public relations for your program. 

When leaders consider the ideal infrastructure for a school district's music program, they need to agree on several things.  

When Kathryn Greene began teaching orchestra at James Cashman Middle School in Las Vegas in 2006, she may have been in over her head. 

The ultimate goal for beginning band students is the devel­op­ment of skills and under­standing that enable the student to experience musical artistry. 

Dr. Emily Threinen is director of bands and associate professor of music at University of Minnesota. She consistently works with composers, arrangers and performing artists of varied disciplines.