Substitute the word dancer with; musician, or ......person.

http://performertherapy.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/15-truths-about-being-a-professional-dancer-2/

Great article about life as performer. It is about dancers but you could substitute the word dancer with; musician, or ......person.

In keeping with this weeks topic of music tech as a means to assist special needs students, here is a video on YouTube that I stumbled across when doing this week's assingment.  It deals with using different colors and pictures to help dyslexic students learn vocabulary words.  I have a dyslexic student as a private student right now and I am going to try to modify this technique for use with note reading.  Have any of you ever encountered this? Any suggestions?

http://youtu.be/-CpZAH6elIc

                This article is about a young girl who is disabled and participates in the Boardman High School Marching Band. (the school where I teach.)  Its a nice article about an amazing kid, though I think that to some degree it misses the point of why this young lady is special.  While she does benefit from participation in the Boardman Band, in the way that any kid would, she gives back so MUCH MORE to the students and faculty of our organization that can even be put into words. This young lady approaches life with joy, and an attitude that is humbling and infections.  We are all better people for knowing her.

Youngstown Vindicator Article

This one is not directly related to music, (other than being posted by the corps director of the Cadets) but is VERY applicable to all of us out their in Band director land.


http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/20-ways-wake-with-motivation.html

Nice story. In a week where there was a story about a high school coach literally chasing students off the field before halftime was over, it's nice to see that there are a lot of great leaders out there who actually do "get it."
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24233231/ed-orgeron-thanks-each-usc-marching-band-member-with-note

This is amazing! A unique instrument designed by DiVinci that was built from his notebook plans 500 years later.  One could only imagine what he might have thought of its sound.

http://m.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/leonardo-da-vincis-wacky-piano-is-heard-for-the-first-time-after-500-years-20131118-2xpqs.html

Last night I watched the webcast of Bands of America Grand Nationals. As someone who has been nurtured and raised in the competitive marching band world, both personally and professionally, it was great to enjoy the excitement of the activity again. Two teachers that I know personally and have been huge influences on me won national titles last night.  Chris Foster with the Bellbrook high school band (class a) and Joni Perez at The Woodlands high school in Texas (overall).  I am including an interview with Joni about her program.  I have young female students who want to be band directors and I like to tell them about Joni as a example that girl power is a good think in the mostly male dominated band director world.http://youtu.be/UL6KiUuLNF0