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Prepping for Solos
When the excitement of fall marching season is a distant memory, it’s the perfect time to prepare for next season’s ... -
Note Bending
A brass pipe has resonant points or vibrational frequencies that correlate to the overtone series. These partials or harmonics represent ... -
Private Lessons
Regardless of your percussion goals or ambitions, consider taking private lessons. No amount of ensemble rehearsal or home practice can ... -
Being a Leader
Being a leader is not for the faint of heart. It’s a crazy combination of hard work, heart, and soul ... -
Take a Leap
“Bravery. It’s all about being brave.” That’s what I kept thinking as I listened and watched the Paul Winter Consort ... -
Tumbleweeds
Scene: A typical saloon in the Old West. An old north wind blows open the swinging saloon doors; tumbleweeds roll ... -
Rest Up
This month I didn’t want to stress the great rudiments you play, but rather the things you don’t play … ... -
In Pursuit of Tenths
Competition results often come down to just a matter of tenths. Such a fractional percentage of a score, yet just ... -
Listening to Recordings
I’ll bet I’m older than you. That’s a good thing because I’m gonna tell you what it was like back ... -
Whisper Tones
Whisper tones exist on the cusp of a note, just before the lips set into full vibration. As the name ... -
Fall Wrap-Up
For most people reading this column, the marching band season has either just ended or will be ending shortly. Therefore, ... -
In the Details
At the end of each competitive season, guards across the country work hard to clean and improve nearly every aspect ... -
Back to School
After a relaxed schedule over the summer, beginning the new school year is an abrupt change with early rehearsals, demanding ... -
T.O.C. (Time Off Chops)
I am writing this article from a ship balcony overlooking the rainy streetscape of Juneau, Alaska. As I packed for ... -
Auditioning for Indoor
This month I sat down with Kyle Wong, a snare player who won a WGI Gold Medal in 2014 with ... -
All in the Journey
The rush of a fantastic performance is one of the most amazing things about color guard, but performance only accounts ... -
Wrapping, Sails and the Newbie
Happy summer! As I write this, I am sure that the majority of us are in the midst of summer ... -
Parade Prep
There are few types of activities in the marching world more polarizing than parades. Some people view them as distractions ... -
Compression Tactics
Making a balloon squeal by releasing small amounts of air through a stretched opening bears resemblance to the function of ... -
Studio Sessions
In March 2015, I went to Havana, Cuba, with the Crescent Super Band, part of an after-school program started by ... -
Rearview Mirror
Congratulations! You made it through yet another year-long ride on the color guard coaster. It all started with the first ... -
Summer Learning
Last summer at the high school I teach, we undertook a rather daunting and aggressive plan to raise our skill ... -
Oodles of Noodles
Back in November 2009, I penned the Sectionals column, “You Run the Show,” proposing the notion that we’re all “self-taught” ... -
Creature of Habit
My neurotic 9-pound terrier is happiest on days that follow normal and predictable patterns of activity. At the risk of ... -
Stretching for Flutists
Stretching frequently in a practice session increases flexibility, reduces tension and develops focus instead of frustration. Try these simple exercises ... -
Lost in the Shuffle
Listening to your music collection on shuffle or setting a streaming service on “radio” is a good way to discover ... -
Take It Off the Left
Most of us drummers are way more comfortable with our right hands than our left hands. So it is no ... -
We Are All Wobblers
Beginners and experts in a field have a lot more in common than you would think. Guard instructor Chris Casteel ... -
Lighten Up
The lightness of the fingers on the keys is paramount to getting around the horn. Little pressure is actually needed ... -
Jocularity
Don't be a trumpet jock. A truly impressive player is one who uses physical chops to make music, not to ...
