Knowledge Bank
The Knowledge Bank is a library of helpful articles written by professional players and key people in music education. Browse through the headlines and read about their experiences.
You too, can now benefit from their success as they share their tricks of the trade!
We all know the saying "Many hands make light work" and we all agree that sharing the load makes the job easier and gets it done faster. However, the question of whether the job is done to our satisfaction can be subject to individual opinions. Frustration is often a ...
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Can Optimo work with our school Admin program?
Schools, institutions and large organisations use specialised administration programs to help them run more efficiently. The functions of these programs are focused on accounting, reporting tasks and managing student information relevant to the schools daily needs. All subjects, classes and staff details are tracked ...
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Performing Arts Library & Academic Library
Why they are so different and should be kept separate
by Yvonne Lang
We all agree that the Performing Arts is an incredibly vibrant part of any school, college or university and as such, encompasses a unique set of talents. As professionals in our field we understand the intricacies of our chosen profession. We also appreciate the variety of ...
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MRAMP - What's that?
by Darryl Pope
Although a relatively new acronym MRAMP (EM-RAMP) is a highly effective way to monitor your workplace tools an systems. It stands for Music Resource Asset Management Program.
It first found its way into the vocabulary probably as much as a couple of years ago. This was a result of investigations that found the current methods ...
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The True Value of Competition
by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
If you are in the game of COMPETITION to "win a trophy", then you may find yourself sensing a great deal of frustration as you go through the process of preparation - production - performance, particularly if (after all that) you end up "without a trophy". OUCH! It's so easy to get caught up in that attitude ...
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Good Tuning or Good Intonation?
"The first thing I do is tune the band!"
That's what most band directors do - but what does that mean? Everyone plays a Bb (that's not so good for the flutes, alto saxes, oboes, bassoons and a few others) and then we hear the Bb major scale.
That's what happened last week (or yesterday) and the week ...
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Clarinet Reeds
How to care for them and how to improve their response
by Floyd Williams - Senior lecturer in clarinet at Queensland Conservatorium - Griffith University, Australia. Floyd is also the editor of 'Australian Clarinet and Saxophone'.
The purpose of this article is to provide some simple, but effective procedures that will make more reeds respond better and last longer. ...
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Target Practice
An article for Missouri School Magazine, August 2007
by Steve Williams, Fine Arts Consultant, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, email: steve.williams@dese.mo.gov
When I was in high school, band was fun and I could get by without working too hard. In fact, in my junior year I didn't even play in a jazz band because at that time ...
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Balancing the Tip of Single Reeds
by Jerry Nowak
In order for the reed to vibrate well and 'speak' with an immediate response, the tip of the reed must be the same thickness from edge to edge. Any variations in thickness will inhibit a quick response and it may be stuffy when sustaining.
The following procedure should be followed during the early stages of ...
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Circles
"I cannot teach you music, I can only help you find it in your heart"
Some thoughts by Russell Hammond
In the early 80s, while on a conducting assignment to the United States I had the privilege of attending a performance by the New York String Quartet.
I sat in the front row of a rather intimate auditorium ...
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Concepts - The Untapped Goldmine
by Russell Hammond
We've all got concepts - hundreds of them - and they can be a very useful teaching tool for music teachers and particularly for conductors of school groups such as orchestras, jazz ensembles, and bands.
The trouble is that most of us don't recognise their value and our concepts remain virtually unused.
Use catchy, short, easy-to-remember phrases that students will ...
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Careful - You're re-creating yourself!
A short observation from Russell Hammond
I work with a band from time to time the flute teacher (tutor) of which sits on a desk while teaching private lessons to students. Her feet are on a chair and her legs are crossed.
Guess what the flute players' posture is like - well it would be if I would ...
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Careers in Music
Every year literally tens of thousands of young people begin to learn a musical instrument.
Some start off just wanting to 'see what it's like', while others have developed quite a strong passion for music at an early age.
Some parents push their children very hard, insisting on long periods of practice every day; others take a more ...
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