Timpani heads do not need to be changed very often – we recommend every 1 to 2 years – but it's still important for band directors to know how to change them. 

Music educators should not overlook selecting a proper saxophone mouthpiece for students in saxophone method classes and for beginners. 

Imagine that it's a new school year, a new band/ensemble season, and the percussionist arrives to rehearsal to see what music is in store for the first concert.

As an educator, I have never understood why young percussionists are not taught more about musicality. My wife is a flute teacher, and she teaches musicality to kids in sixth grade. 

"I'm kind of hard-wired to do things at a pretty intense level," says Aaron Tindall. "In the low brass field, you just have to be relentless."  And Tindall expects the same passion from his students.

You became an instrumental educator because you love music and have a passion for sharing your talent with students. When your job inspires you, teaching may not even feel like work.

In music, tone is distinct and identifiable, and when played correctly and in harmony within an ensemble, it sets the overall mood and quality of a performance. However, mastering tone does not come easily.

In the blog post, The Drive of Top Tubist Aaron Tindall, Tindall describes how he has high expectations for his students.

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

In Case Study: Music Program Teamwork in Tennessee, we learned how the band, orchestra and choir directors at Ravenwood High School often plan and collaborate during the only time they are free­ — their common lunch period. 

Yamaha Master Educator Anthony Maiello is a University professor and professor of Music at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. 

Good things come in waves. After a few years at a new high school, your marching band is going great. The booster program is very active and has been raising money. 

Trombones are a critical voice in any band or symphonic ensemble, and compared to most other wind instruments, they are actually pretty simple machines.

It's true that new waves of technology make it easier to access information when you need it and however you need it. Need to learn a quick "hack" — simply Google it, right? 

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.

It's the night of the beginning band concert, and the curtain will go up soon. You're back stage shepherding all of your students, who are bubbling with nervous excitement, to their chairs. 

In Case Study: A Las Vegas Middle School Orchestra's Remarkable Success, Kathryn Greene outlined how she took her program to unprecedented heights, despite having no prior strings experience. 

Imagine a director asking, "Can you make your sound move the same way you moved your arms?" 

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.