Key Concepts

Things I would be thinking at this time of year over the years...

The Backstory

During the fall of 2023, I found myself at an evening rehearsal for my daughter’s high school marching band. It was one of those crisp autumn nights where the field lights glow just right, and you can feel the energy in the air. But as I stood quietly off to the side, observing, I noticed more than just run-throughs and drill cleaning. I saw so many “quick fix” transgressions—areas that, with just a little reinforcement of foundational teaching principles, could make a huge difference in a matter of weeks. These weren’t major overhauls; they were tweaks that, with intention and consistency, could elevate everything.

The next morning, while waiting to drop her off at school, I found myself digging through old emails—notes from past consulting gigs with some incredible programs: Broken Arrow, OK; Coppell, TX; Lafayette, LA; Mason, OH; The Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, and more. These were groups that had experienced major growth—not just because of talent, but because they were ready to embrace a mindset shift. What I found in those messages was a "stock" body of sayings—a toolbox of distilled pedagogy and big-picture thinking, phrased in ways that stuck.

I dusted them off, compiled a list, and told myself: Share this. Let others weigh the value. Help as many directors and students as possible.

So, I opened Facebook and typed:“Things I would be thinking about at this time of year over the years…”Then I pasted the list and hit "Post."

What happened next? I was floored. Before I even got downtown for work, that post had gained more traction—likes, shares, comments—than the usual sentimental posts about my daughter, or even anniversary posts for Gwen and me. That weekend, at BOA Whitewater, multiple folks asked me to make the post public so they could share it with their colleagues. Again, I was surprised and deeply humbled.

Things I would be thinking about at this time of year over the years:

• Keep the main thing the main thing—melodic and harmonic content

• Equal and even energy of sound (volume), side to side, from player to player

• Approach your instrument as though it is one instrument group larger - relax, breathe

• Deep, timed breathing through the visual phrase prior to an entrance (expelling old air prior to intake of new)

• Achieve longer musical phrases with less breathing throughout (no breathing on a bar line or drill set)

• Begin phrases at an energy level (volume) that can not only be sustained but grow

• The best defense against poor intonation is superior tone quality… see all of the above.

...and LISTEN! Side to side, from player to player. Constantly hearing the performers next to you as well as the lowest voice.

• Sit DOWN on every note and lift up on the release, especially full-length quarter notes in terms of weight, direction, and length

• Arrivals must have growth into the silence, keep an open vowel shape, the back teeth still, and use “H” with positive air past the lips into the release

• Approach the lower note of large interval skips with weight and stress in proportion, like approaching the desired lift on a diving board

• Approach descending lines musically with growth and weight like the descending resonators on a marimba, which get seemingly sarcastically bigger with each note

• Hydration begins the day before

• For each meal, eat something that was once alive and be able to account for at least 3 of 4 food groups

• Wash your hands; do not rub your eyes or put your fingers in your mouth

• Do not share your water bottle or other beverages

• Do the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time, without expectation of recognition or reward

• There is plenty of time to be in college when you are in college—Be above reproach, here and now...be with us

• Good is the enemy of Great

• The pain of discipline now or the pain of regret later

• Listening + Responding Appropriately = Success

• Life is 10% what happens, 90% how you react

• P - I = R: Potential minus Interference equals Results

Band is FUN!