This article was originally published in The Woman Conductor Journal, June 2023 issue. Graphic design skills may not be something band directors expect to need in their careers. But between concert programs, promotional posters, and award certificates, graphic design is likely something most of us have had to do. Luckily, there are some great tools available that…
Now we know the study of creativity began with some behavioral psychologists in the early 1900s (What Does It Mean To Be Creative?) and there are some different ideas about what makes up the creative process which can include elements of convergent and divergent thinking. But you might ask, what do I do with this…
One of the enjoyable tasks in this semester’s Listening and Creating class was the opportunity to read a book about creativity. We were offered several options to choose from, some related to music and music education, and others with a more broad look at creativity. I chose a book outside music education. I’ve read books…
Some scholars believe that creativity can be measured as part of a process, which I wrote about here: What’s the Role of the Creative Process in Music? But others were more interested in looking at what makes a person creative. They found that individuals have measurable characteristics that determine how creative they are. The ability…
When looking at creativity, there are differences in opinion on where the creativity comes from. Scholars vary on whether they believe it’s the person, process, product, or place that determines if creativity exists. This blog post will focus on things surrounding the creative process in music. If you had asked me four months ago if…
Creativity is a word we hear often in education, especially in music education, and it’s something I’ve become quite passionate about in the last few years. How are we, as music educators, offering opportunities for students to be creative? When do students get to create their own music and make their own musical decisions, instead…
I don’t know how it’s possible that I’ve been using Padlet for so long and never wrote a blog post about it! I know I’ve mentioned it in other posts, like Engaging Students During Rehearsal With Technology and Apps for Beginning Band and Orchestra, and it was also featured in my book Empowering Ensembles With…
This article about engaging students during rehearsals was originally published in The Woman Conductor Journal, February 2023 issue. If you are looking to engage students during rehearsals, technology might be the answer! There are several tech tools you can use to enhance musicianship and get students more deeply involved in the music-making process. Tech Tools to Build…
Happy New Year! What a year it’s been 😊 Personally, this year was full of adventures: some amazing travels, moved across the country, and started a PhD program at Arizona State University! At times, the blog had to take a backseat, but it’s been fun to publish new posts and revise the old favorites when…
Updated December 2022 This post has gotten a much-needed update! It’s no secret; I am a fan of technology in education. In my last two teaching positions, all students had school-issued iPads. I enjoyed using the iPads with my band students and have found several apps that work well in this setting. While I would…