ASBDA REGION 4
Building Better Bands
Communication and the Band Binder
Organization so all you do is TEACH and reduce "gotcha" moments in education.
Todd Dixon
Wylie High School, TX
Retired
WHY?
Stop for the WHY in what we do.
Provide INFORMATION and OPPORTUNITY for young musicians.
Teach CRITICAL THINKING through musical excellence.
Foster COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL and SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
Foster life-long LOVERS/CONSUMERS/CONTRIBUTORS OF MUSIC.
MAKE MUSIC!
COMMUNICATION
To Whom?
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Administration
  • Community
Why?
  • TRUST
  • Promote student
  • Promote program
  • Parental planning
  • Administrative planning
How often?
  • As much as possible
  • High School - Weekly
  • Middle School - Monthly or Biweekly if needed
  • Plan early
  • Have multiple places to access information
COMMUNICATION TOOLS
E-Newsletter (my favorite)
Direct Messaging/Closed Social Media App
Email (obvious)
Social Media
Website that is UP-TO-DATE
Daily Class Information
ON-RAMPING INCOMING MEMBERS
6-7 Newsletters designed only for incoming members and parents.
This works for incoming beginners / transitioning campuses / incoming freshmen
DECEMBER REMINDER PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS BREAK
BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY
BEGINNING OF MARCH
BEGINNING OF APRIL
BEGINNING OF MAY
MID MAY
NEWSLETTER EXAMPLES
SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS
END OF SCHOOL MARCHING CAMP
END OF JUNE INFO
MID JULY INFO
BAND CAMP PREP INFO
BAND CAMP WEEK 1
END OF BAND CAMP WEEK 1
End of Band Camp Week 2 transition to TWBugle
1st full week of school
2nd week of school…getting in a groove
Meet the Pirate Night
Lead up to 1st football game Example
Wylie Marching Invitational Lead Up
Middle of Contest Season
Trip Info Example
December Concert Example
Fall Example
COMMUNICATION IN THE BAND HALL
Daily Procedure
  • Have a slide with the plan
  • Do it daily
  • Put times if needed
  • Be detailed
  • Have expectations
  • Define "Class Ready" daily
  • Be an organized example to help them know what you are rehearsing and when to be responsible for the music.
BAND BINDER
Have a procedure and timeline for EVERYTHING
Organizational process
  • Band Binder to organize life (purchase all materials in Spring Semester).
  • Instrumental Essentials page (instrument specific)
  • Tab 1 - Information
  • Tab 2 - Individual Warm Ups
  • Tab 3 - Ensemble Daily Drill
  • Tab 4 - Rhythm / Theory / Scales
  • Tab 5 - Private Lesson Assignments
  • Tab 6 - Master Class / All-State Assignments
  • Tab 7 - Solo & Ensemble Entry Forms and Information 
  • Tab 8 - Band Music (this was the ONLY thing I had to pass out for the rest of the year)
Provide pencils and pencil pouch if you want them to have pencils and metronome.  You can purchase pencils SHARPENED with your school name or mission statement. 1,000 for @$330
Cover Page - Instrumental Essentials
Instrumental Essentials
TRUMPET
Playing Position (Perfect Playing Posture)
  • Chair- The chair and Body face forward toward the conductor
  • Feet- Feet flat on the floor facing the conductor
  • Seat- Sit in the front half of the chair
  • Back- Keep the back straight for proper balance of body and instrument
  • Shoulders- Shoulders are relaxed down and open`
  • Head- Head up and floating, chin is slightly lifted
Hand Position
  • Left Hand- Fingerprints touch the trumpet; thumb is in the saddle; ring finger is in the third valve slide ring; index finger is touching the underside of the bell pipe
  • Right Hand- Tip of thumb is between 1st & 2nd valve; thumb is straight; side of thumb is touching the underside of the lead pipe; slight curve to the fingers; big knuckle is even with top of valves; pinky is on top of ring
  • Additional- Hands are soft and natural; fingers always touching where they are set. . . especially the valves
  • Weight/Balance- Left hand is holds the weight while the right hand helps balance and stabilize the trumpet
Embouchure (The Face with a Future)
  • Face- Center of lips are soft; corners in against canine teeth; the wet part of the lips stay against the teeth at all times; teeth are even and apart; tongue stays flat and forward to allow proper airflow
  • Mouthpiece Placement- 50% top lip, 50% bottom lip
  • Vowel Shape- "AH"
  • Air Direction- Through the lead pipe to the FIRST BEND of the main tuning slide
Tab 1 - Information
  • Fall Schedule
  • SAT / ACT Dates
  • Letter Jacket Info
  • Link to Band Handbook
Tab 2 - Individual Warm Ups
  • Instrument specific warm ups
  • Practice Techniques
  • Tuning Chart
  • Uneven Rhythms Information
Tab 3 - Daily Drill
Tab 4 - Scales / Rhythm
Tab 5 - Private Lesson Assignments
Tab 6 - Master Class Information /All State Music
Tab 7 - Solo & Ensemble Entry / Information
Tab 8 - Band Music
HOLE PUNCH BOTH SIDES BEFORE HANDING OUT
THE COMMON GOAL
They want to play their instrument
We want to teach and have them play
Every minute saved on non-musical tasks is a minute gained for what truly matters - making music together.
QUESTIONS?
Todd Dixon
Wylie High School, TX
Retired