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

With all of the focus on copyright law this week, I want to share with you this website for a company called copycat.  It is a licensing agency that works with composers and arrangers and does most of the work of navigating copyright law for you.  I have never used this service myself, but two friends who arrange for competitive marching bands, each with a $6000 per year copyright budget, use this group extensively and swear by it.    Here is a link. http://copycatlicensing.com

Great Washington post article about the tech behind the Ohio state marching band shows that everyone has been going nuts over on the internet lately.  The students all have iPads and a program that takes information from pyware and turns it into a virtual drill book. Very cool!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/11/05/ohio-states-marching-band-revolutionized-halftime-shows-heres-how/

Another music notation software package that I have experimented with this week is Notion.  It is available for purchased download for PC or Mac for about $50. Or as an app on the iPad for about $14. I think it is that the closest thing that I have found so for to Finale for the iPad.  Initial price is cheap but you must make in app purchases to get all of the sounds.
 Check it out.
http://www.notionmusic.com

This week's assignment was too produce a score using the online notation software called note flight. I found this program to be very usable and have great potential for classroom.  It works a lot like musecore and is comparable in input method and ease of use.  (It might actually be easier.) it is somewhat limited in the amount of sounds that can be produced for playback but the upside is that all oft he information is online and there is no need to download anything.  I used it on my laptop (PC) and on the iPad through Safari.  Both worked well and the iPad version has a virtual piano keyboard for easy notation much like Notion.  Here is my "bike".
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/14b404070cf1220e153a456eacdd84ef1de0a741

With all of the politics and moving targets that effect our test centric educational culture, it is nice to hear some members of a younger generation paying attention and getting involved. This is a Ted Talk from Columbus Ohio from a recent high school graduate talking about what our schools value vs. what is valuable for our students.  Very we'll done sir!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GZVxA0J5g28&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGZVxA0J5g28