Wind Conductor

Being a band director often feels like you are on call 24/7. Because of the many roles we carry in this profession, we often feel obligated to answer the email from the booster president the moment it pops up on our phone, listen to parent concerns as students are walking off the field for rehearsal, or answer questions about grades when a parent stops us after a concert, or worse, before a concert. The problem may be that there is no structure or system in place to protect y

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...