Corey's Commentary J. Corey Francis

As band directors, we are constantly on the go and working behind the scenes. Sometimes, we do not plan appropriately for the next rehearsal. This often leads to a more chaotic practice and frustration. Having a regular rehearsal routine helps set the standard and expectations every day, allowing students to feel comfortable and ready. In this episode, I present a few things that helped me manage rehearsal expectation and build to a successful day and season.

It is July. We have reached the final month of summer break and our attention is turning to the school year ahead. Decisions are to be made regarding what music will be performed and which events to attend. Every music education program is unique and faces its own challenges. Most have multiple seasons and ensembles to plan. It is easy to set goals for a marching band season or a choral festival, but how is that enhancing your entire program? What is the center of your music education wheel?

Color Guard (or auxiliaries if you wish) is one of the most important and, yet, misused components of a marching ensemble. Many times, this portion of the group is left to fend for themselves creatively or just moved aimlessly around the field. Because of the significance both visually and energetically, Band Directors should show careful attention toward the Color Guard from day one of show design.

One of my favorite things about marching band shows is the emotional impact they can create. The highs and lows in the performance pull me in and make each performance unique. However, there are several ways these impacts are impeded during the show. Whether it is how the ensemble builds to the impact or the monotony of sounds generated, the overall emotional content is lacking. Today, we discuss a few ways to help improve the ensemble's performance to create better moments of tension and release.

There are many questions to be answered when attending college for the first time. What classes to take? How should I arrange my schedule? Which dorm should I choose? If you participated in marching band in high school, you will face the decision about whether or not to join the band in college. The simple answer to that question is, yes, join the marching band. In this episode, I discuss why this is the answer. 

Welcome to Corey's Commentary Podcast! The goal of this podcast is simply to share my experiences with you. Now, most of the content will fall in the category of music education but I want to be more open than just that. Why? Because I love so many other things. Family. Grilling. Baseball. Golf. Coffee. Star Wars. You get the picture. Some of this may not be your brew and that is fine. I don't like cold brew, so there is that. Still, maybe you will find something interesting. Just kick back, grab a cup of coffee, and let's chat.