Bandworld Magazine

The Educational Establishment is Moving Our Way. For years band directors have been employing techniques in their teaching which have now been given formal names and official sanction by the educational establishment. By learning these names and informing your school administration of your new and innovative programs you can earn additional prestige for educational leadership...

It is now time to add the fourth and final member of the “Fantastic Four” (the “4 D’s”) the fastest of our timeline velocities, the “dits”.  After your young musicians have worked with their thumb motions with the “1, 2, and 3” of “digit” counting, the same motions are used, but now we say “1, &, 2, &, 3,...

The following exercises are intended to help new students of the oboe establish great breathing and articulation habits in order to properly support tone production when playing the instrument. These are designed to be used in tandem with most any of the standard beginning band instruction books. While those books provide a comprehensive approach to learning the language of...

Volume VII: GAVORKNA! The Wind Band Music of Jack Stampvarious ensembles Purchase from Mark Custom57147-MCD For many years Jack Stamp has been one of the most prolific and sought after composer/conductor/clinicians for bands. Gavorkna was written in 1991 and is the work...

A performer’s embouchure is critical to achieving a desirable sound on the saxophone. This mouthpiece exercise is an excellent method for refining a proper classical alto saxophone embouchure. This exercise only requires the mouthpiece, reed, and ligature. Ensure that the mouthpiece is not attached to the neck. When blowing into the mouthpiece, the performer should hear a concert A (or...

The most impactful individual in the musical life of countless young band students is their band director. This individual shapes a student’s perception of musical excellence and emboldens them to reach their own potential with greater skill, and, therefore, greater enjoyment in making music. The band director leads them through musical experiences they will remember for the rest of...

West Chester University Wind EnsembleAndrew Yozviak: conductor Purchase from Mark Custom56957-MCD It's always a treat to hear the West Chester University Wind Ensemble so I'm ready to play "Games" along with the other fine compositions. Concerto for Wind Ensemble "Games" by James M. Stephenson invites...

A Special Award of The John Philip Sousa Foundation Katheryn Fenske is Director of Bands, DuBray Middle School and Woodwind Specialist for grades 9-12 at Fort Zumwalt East High School in St. Peters, Missouri. She has held these posts for the last eight years....

A Special Award of The John Philip Sousa Foundation Jeff Behrens is the Director of Bands at Richland Center High School in Richland Center, Wisconsin. He has held this position for 18 out of his 37 years of teaching. Jeff serves as the Symphonic Band...

A Special Award of The John Philip Sousa Foundation Paul Kile is the director of bands at Edina High School in Edina, Minnesota. He has held this position for the last 20 years of his 31 total years in teaching.