Have you ever wondered how to motivate your students? Teachers of various disciplines and experience levels can all agree: this a topic...

Have you ever had a student answer a question with answer that caught you off guard? Or, have a student answer with a lot...

Here's a little something I wish I knew when I was a high school and college student: how you define success will change. Although I...

Searching the internet for "best reeds" or "what saxophone should I buy" is a rabbit hole you don't need to go down. Often, these...

Some of the best advice I've ever received comes from my graduate school professor, Timothy McAllister. While studying orchestral...

As much as saxophone-themed socks, ties, and t-shirts are appreciated, here are the coolest gifts that students will actually use:...

Procrastination has never been something I’ve understood; I am always the person that gets an assignment and dives in immediately, aiming...

Regularly cleaning the saxophone mouthpiece is an essential part of instrument care. Think about it: how hygienic would it be to not...

There's a lot out there that will entertain young students. But apps that ACTUALLY aid in their musical development? That's a...

Canker sores got you down? Here's your handy guide to getting your mouth back in tip-top shape: Hydrogen peroxide: the antiseptic...

I heard a fantastic lecture this past March on Stage Fright from Psychotherapist Melissa Duncan. In addition to her insight on the...

Virtual teaching is...an adventure. Navigating this time has certainly been a change. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I've created...

Quaranteaching week 2: a nod to the angles students use during lessons. Personal favorite: The “thigh-master”

As much as I love teaching one-on-one, there's something so special about coaching a chamber ensemble (or in the case of the Vandegrift...

Today’s (unconventional) teaching gem: hearing the excitement of an 8th grader talking about the courses she’ll take in high...

It’s sweatpants guy week. When I was a freshman in high school auditioning for District Band, there was a junior who went right before...

My husband has a habit of going to wirecutter.com whenever he needs something new. If you're unfamiliar with the site, it's a hub of...

A fantastic article on the power and practice of deep learning. How to Harness the Power of Deep Practice to Master Any Discipline

If you haven't tried these out yet, you NEED to! Here's why I use them and recommend them for my students. Check them out for yourself at...

As we near Thanksgiving break and look at fall competition results in the rear view mirror, I want to take a minute to address something...

My lecture on Overcoming Performance Anxiety is up on YouTube! Excuse my shoes (I forgot to change out of my walking shoes :/) and enjoy...

World Saxophone Congress 18 in the books! I am home now from WSC, which seems strange since I was in Zagreb, Croatia yesterday. Needless...

The 2017-18 school year was my challenge to fall back in love with the PROCESS of making music, instead of focusing on results. The final...