Young Person's Guide to John Williams

SKU: GI.G-9566

ISBN 9781622773589.

What do coaches, master teachers, and studies of the psychology of learning have to teach us about conducting? It turns out, quite a bit. In this concise yet insightful volume, Richard Sparks draws from years of experience in the professional choral world and from his time teaching at two leading universities to help choral conductors transform their craft and create truly artful experiences. He gains inspiration from legendary college basketball coach John Wooden and shares striking and refreshing parallels between coaching sports teams and conducting music ensembles. Sparks draws equally from research in the fields of teaching and the psychology of learning—and what a conductor can take from those areas as well. Just as an artisan builds a set of skills and learns the tools of the trade, conductors too must build a box of tools to help them learn, understand, and interpret music, lead rehearsals, and conduct. The Conductor’s Toolbox conveniently and succinctly compiles these tools. Highlights include: Assessing yourself and your choir Using modeling Developing good habits in yourself and your choir Learning and teaching new skills Rehearsing more efficiently Teaching fundamental elements of music Selecting repertoire that improves your and your choir’s skills Improving your planning and pacing of rehearsals This book is for the young conductor starting out who wants to build a truly solid craft. It is also for the experienced conductor who wonders how to move to the next level, reenergize, and grow. Richard Sparks was Professor of Music and Chair of Conducting & Ensembles at the University of North Texas from 2009–2019, and he served as Director of Choral Activities at Pacific Lutheran University from 1983–2001. He has founded and led a number of professional choral organizations and guest conducted ensembles including the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and the Swedish Radio Choir. Choral Music Skill Building Evaluation Form. This evaluation form, created by Alan Davis and available here as a free PDF download, touches on many of the skill building ideas discussed in The Conductor's Toolbox. A unique and deftly effective instructional reference guide and manual that is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collection, The Conductor's Toolbox should be considered essential reading for anyone seeking a career in orchestral conducting in any form or format. —James A. Cox, Library Bookwatch, October 2019.

SKU: GI.G-10595

ISBN 9781622776221.

Cont ributors: John M. Denis (Texas State University) • Kyle Glaser (Texas State University) • Jacob Harrison (Texas State University) • John Lopez (Texas State University) • Jocelyn Prendergast (Truman State University) • Brett Richardson (University of the Incarnate Word) • Jordan C. Stern (Texas State University) • Olivia G. Tucker (University of New Mexico) • Brian Wilson (Denton High School) • Jesse Woolery (Denton High School)   Congratulations on setting out in an amazing, rewarding, fun, difficult, confusing career. This book is intended to be all the things I wish I had known when I started, everything necessary to make those first years more successful. — John M. Denis, from the Introduction Written by a team of authors from Texas, one of the strongest music education communities in the United States, this practical, personal, and conversational guide for aspiring and young instrumental music educators takes a comprehensive view of all aspects of building a successful school band program. Girded with important theoretical underpinnings for each topic, Program Notes covers the job interview, sequencing, conducting, rehearsal strategies, and dozens of other topics for beginning band, concert band, and marching band, as well as jazz, orchestra, mariachi, and modern band. Chapters also focus on promoting creativity, recruitment and retention, finances, communication, leadership development, working with exceptional learners, and technology. Rounding out the book are a sample handbook for students, a concert self-evaluation form, and example interview questions. With flair and years of experiences to share, the co-authors have created a resource that is designed to make the lives of young band directors better. As Denis states in the book’s introduction, “Every skilled teacher has an exponential impact on the world, and I hope this book further fosters caring people to become exceptional band directors.” Compiler and editor John M. Denis is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where he teaches upper-level undergraduate and graduate music education courses. He has sixteen years of experience working with Texas students at the public school and college levels. Dr. Denis is also creator and producer of Program Notes: The Band Director Podcast.