This is where James does his Blog posts
The Big Lie One of the biggest lies we’ve told students – not on purpose – is that practice makes perfect. Not true! Perfect practice makes perfect! But most students don’t know how to practice. Early in my career I often had students fill out impressive practice logs with 10 hours a week of practice. …
Read more “Practice Tips – Plus THE BIG LIE About Practicing”
I once had a colleague who was my feeder for the high school band. He made a statement that bothered me some. He stated, “I don’t worry too much about posture and tone. I’m focusing on getting the kids to have fun and enjoy band and figure you will fix those things when they reach …
Read more “Good Tone – The Number 1 Thing You Should Focus On”
No single method of discipline will work for every student in every situation. Each student is different and may need a different approach. And the student who always does what they’re supposed to but is having a bad day will require a different approach than a student who never does what they’re supposed to. It’s …
Read more “Classroom Discipline Techniques Guaranteed To Work (most of the time)”
Establish AND Practice Routines and Procedures The time you invest early in the school year in processes and procedures will pay HUGE dividends throughout the year! Teachers often tell me, “I just don’t have time to spend on procedures.” I understand that we all want to perform the best that we can at concerts, and …
Julie trying out a trumpet Music is a language onto its own, but it requires a master translator to bring it to the masses. In my 26 years as a teacher, I have had the opportunity to observe a lot of teachers. Julie Harrison is the absolute best! I had an opportunity to work with …
Read more “Unveiling Genius: The Best Music Teacher- Her Hidden Talent”
As humans, we lean towards the easy but that’s not always what we are called to do. Everybody has a purpose, a reason for being on this earth. One person described life as being composed of two critical moments… In case you are not familiar with his story, here are a few highlights about Moses. …
In 1989, I was in the Army Band and received orders to be reassigned to Japan. I was so excited – and so was my lovely bride. We enjoy experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, and having our minds expanded by different ways people do things around the world. In the days leading up to …
I saw this posted recently. I don’t know if it’s a true story, but it definitely sounds like how Yogi would explain jazz. Interviewer: Can you explain jazz? Yogi: I can’t, but I will. 90% of all jazz is half improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are playing something they …
When it comes to musical instruments, the saxophone stands apart as a true masterpiece. With its unparalleled ability to evoke emotion, its versatile sound range, and its captivating blend of elegance and energy, the saxophone has rightfully earned its place as one of the most beloved and revered instruments in the world of music. Recently …
Believe it or not, 36+ years in the music field and I almost didn’t join band in 6th grade! Maybe I didn’t know the benefits, or maybe I was just too young to care. Learning a musical instrument offers a wide range of benefits that extend beyond simply acquiring a new skill. The most important …
I’m a band teacher and belong to several social media sites where other members can post questions, express struggles, and share resources. It’s great most of the time, but I have noticed a disturbing trend where, when responding to a member’s difficult situation – instead of posting helpful advice – members post responses like this: …
A few years ago the mantra “It’s not enough to not be racist. You should be anti-racist,” cropped up. Whether you agree with the exact phrasing or not, there is truth to it. I’ll come back to that in a minute. I grew up with a dad who was abusive. We had to escape him. …
Do you have an idea for a book or article? Many people dream of writing a book, but they don’t ever start.Starting is probably the most important thing to do! Get started writing a book.. Follow these steps: Set a goal Don’t worry about editing or proofreading If you follow these steps, you will be …
I was driving and stopped to get gas and a drink at a local store when I heard a loud exclamation… “ Hey everybody – that’s my orchestra teacher.” I didn’t recognize the young lady the exclamation came from, but upon further inquiry, I found out she was a student of mine from 4-5 years …
Whenever I travel through St. Louis, I absolutely love staying at a particular Airbnb that is built up in the trees. Not only is it peaceful and feels like a retreat, but it also reminds me of my dream as a child to build a treehouse for my mom. I have absolutely zero skills at …
You walk into a concert hall and are bombarded with crying babies, cell phones ringing, people talking on their cell phones, people playing games, cat calls to band members, and doors opening and closing in the back. It’s frustrating. It’s disrespectful. Proper concert behavior can and should be taught to the audience and the band …
Read more “Teaching Great Concert Etiquette to the Audience and Performers”
Ever since I was in middle school, I have been very fond of old westerns (I guess they weren’t that old when I was in middle school). Much to the chagrin of my teachers, I completed many homework assignments and school projects while watching reruns of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Alias Smith and Jones. I have …
I spent 1986-1996 in the Army Band. It was a great learning experience for me. I got to spend three of those years in Japan, serving my country as a saxophonist touring Japan. After a while, I knew army life was not for me. I knew I needed a change. My wife and I discussed …
The story I shared at The Story Project a couple of years ago. It aired on KRCC in Colorado Springs. This is my recording of that public airing so forgive the poor sound quality. I share funny stories of growing up Italian, including: How garlic permeates everything when you’re Italian Why I speak SO LOUDLY …
Read more “The Story Project – Funny stories of growing up Italian”
You’re going to be gone from school, there are no music subs (or sometimes no subs at all), and you don’t want to leave the students with a written assignment. What do you do? Try the Student Led Rehearsal. I wish I had originally came up with this idea, but like much of what we …
I am proud to be 50% Italian, 40% German, and the rest a hodgepodge of other nationalities that make me the terrific person I am, but ultimately I’m 100% American! My mom – a full blooded Italian Neapolitan (someone from Naples, Italy) – came to America in 1965 to marry an American and enjoy her …
Do you remember the old Four Seasons song Big Girls Don’t Cry? Well they DO cry, and so do boys! I grew up in the era where MOST of the men in my life would tell me to “Stop Crying”. “Men don’t cry,” they would lament. They were wrong! I don’t hold anything against those …
I had a wonderful 9th grade social studies teacher. She taught us how to think. I attended a school that had kids from all over the world! We had white kids, black kids, Filipino kids, Vietnamese kids, Hispanic kids – and those are just the ones I can remember. When it came time to study …
From 2nd through 7th grades, I was bullied by other boys. Mom felt it was always wrong to fight. She would quote Jesus’ admonition to turn the other cheek. Later I realized that verse describes a time when someone insults you. Even Jesus overturned the moneychanger’s tables, and sometimes boys have to defend themselves. One …
Read more “I Was Bullied Throughout School, but in 6th Grade I Became a Bully”
I’ve spent 35+ years working in the field of music,, yet in sixth grade I almost didn’t join band! The choices were to go to choir, drama, art, band or to stay in the room and read. I love reading, so I decided to stay in the room. After about a week of this, it …
There was an emptiness inside of me, a longing, a desire to connect with a Dad. I had a mom who loved me and would do anything for me, but I still felt empty. My mom was best friends with a lady named Gene. Gene was married to George, who was in the US Navy …
I didn’t understand we were homeless. It wasn’t the “live on the streets in a box” homeless. We lived with relatives. We lived with friends. Italians are great at putting together a makeshift bed to bring in extra people. We had our own apartment for a time – but we could not afford electricity, so …
Read more “Sleeping Under a Bridge? No, But Homeless Nonetheless”
The bright spot for me was when I started Kindergarten. The first day was pretty scary, as it is for all children starting school. I recall two of the most wonderful, compassionate teachers in the world who made me feel at home right away. I looked forward to school! We even had a snack time …
Read more “FREE Chocolate Chip Cookies! It Doesn’t Get Better Than That.”
On September 27, 1966, I arrived, a blank slate, ready to be filled with knowledge and take on the world. Most of us start that way. I knew how to eat, sleep, cry, and poop. That was it! My father was American and my mom was from Naples, Italy. I have some great memories of …
Read more “A Dog Named Snoopy, Peeing on Trees, Eating Meatballs”
I had zero confidence as a young man. I mistakenly thought I had to always be dating someone, when what I really needed to do was work on myself. When the girl I was dating would break up with me, I always wanted to know why. I should have just let them go, but I …
Read more “Believe It Or Not, I Say “Thank God I’m Boring!””