Wind Conductor

A healthy band program is more than one performance. Take five minutes to reflect on musicianship, growth, community support, and school support.

by Aaron Noë End-of-Year for Band Directors The past couple of years have brought some significant transitions in my professional life as I moved from secondary teaching into college teaching. It has been a good and meaningful change, but it has also required me to rethink how I spend my time, where I focus my energy, and how I continue to serve the band director community through WindConductor.org. One of the biggest changes I noticed this year was my level of engagement wit

The end of the school year can feel like a whirlwind. Concerts, awards, inventory, uniforms, graduation, recruitment, and final paperwork all compete for your attention. By the time the last performance is over, many of us are ready to not think about band and start thinking about having a few days off.. However, before moving on, take a few moments to look back on the year. This small step will truly benefit you when you start planning the next school year.

When you look at social media, it almost seems the culture of band directors is busyness. We read about directors moving from rehearsal to rehearsal, barely keeping up with email, juggling logistics from concert to concert. "Busyness" has almost become a badge of honor. Sharing how busy we are seems to be a sign of how great a job we are doing. However, as we scroll further, we see signs of burnout. We hear about trouble at home. Or worse, we hear about a talented band direct

Creating a long-term vision is the first step to truly transforming your band and leading them into the next phase of your band’s journey. Taking the time to develop a long-term vision, moves you from being reactive in your planning process to truly being proactive in the development of your program.

No two bands are the same. And that’s a good thing! It’s easy to get into the comparison game especially after marching season as we begin to reflect on the successes and short comings of the fall season. Reflecting on the successes of other bands and other band directors can be a good thing… …until it isn’t.

By Aaron Noë Progress in Band happens measure-by-measure We live in a society that craves instant results. As we scroll through reels and...

From Day 1, it’s important to establish your routine and set high expectations. And the best way to do that? Show students that making music is the top priority in your classroom. Make it a non-negotiable: Play on the first day.

The Band Director's Goal-Setting Planner is a comprehensive resource designed to help band directors develop and achieve clear goals for their programs.

Thanksgiving, more than other holidays, causes many of us to pause and ‘Count our blessings.’ It falls at the perfect time for band director