At Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, faculty and students embrace failure.

"Being a 21st century artist is different than when I went to school,” says Larry Williams, a French horn performer and teacher. 

Two of the most beneficial tools to help students learn music more quickly and with a higher level of quality are slow practice and gradual increases of music difficulty.

Inclusion is at the heart of United Sound, a peer mentoring program that provides musical performance experiences for students with special needs (called New Musicians). 

Being a first-year music teacher is challenging. A big hurdle is applying the knowledge you gained during your formal education while building practical knowledge, which is usually learned on-the-fly once you enter the workforce.

The beginning of the school year is a good time for music educators to create a better routine for good mental health for themselves and their students.

When it comes to teaching and/or performing in the field of music, almost everyone has or will have to deal with “burnout,” which is a mental collapse due to stress.

Over the past two months, it feels like I have watched more webinars than I have in the last two years. I am sure that is the case for many of you.

Yamaha Corporation of America joined more than 50 other organizations to endorse the National Association for Music Education’s “Arts Education Is Essential” unified statement.

Middle school band is often where students begin their musical journey. It is a time when the three basic elements of music — rhythm, melody and harmony — begin to take shape and make sense to students. 

Most music educators, choir directors, composers or music students have likely used a music notation program for a variety of reasons including:

Electric string ensembles in school music programs are not the far-fetched idea they once were. 

Welcome, music teachers!

Yamaha is proud to partner with MTNA to bring its 2020 Virtual Conference to you. Even though we will miss interacting with you in person, our goal is to offer helpful and meaningful sessions and resources so you can continue to fulfill MTNA’s mission of advancing the value of music study and music making to society.

“The quest to explore different traditions from around the world outside of classical music has really felt like a quest to discover more about myself,” says Mike Block. 

Tradeshows can be powerful ways for music educators to hone new skills, network and find inspiration. But as attendees go to sessions and roam exhibit halls, the experience can be overwhelming. 

Music educators are no strangers to evaluation. Often, these evaluations happen when a cul­minating activity — like a festival, concert or recital — presents a finished product for consideration.

Chamber ensembles allow students to practice and perform with like-minded musicians while providing camaraderie. 

Every year I attend the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Advocacy Fly-In in Washington, D.C. 

Cellist Mike Block, an associate professor at Berklee College of Music, remembers a huge moment from when he was in college at the Cleveland Institute of Music. 

Marcia Neel is senior director of education for Yamaha Corporation of America and a Yamaha Master Educator.