The ideal text for college instrumental students and an invaluable reference for practicing teachers, this book covers every critical area in the professional life of band and orchestra teachers at the beginning and secondary levels. Author Lynn G. Cooper shares the experience and knowledge he has gained from more than 40 years of teaching instrumental music and music education. This second edition is significantly expanded and updated, including major new sections on advocacy, technology, and the challenges of teaching middle school students. Also included are additional student assessment strategies, updated Suggested Band Literature Lists, and more examples of effective warm-up and technique-building literature for rehearsals. A plethora of forms, sample letters, charts, and lists of suggested literature round out this enlightening text. Sample course syllabi and additional supplemental resources are available online. 

Dr. Lynn G. Cooper retired in 2007 as Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Music at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. During his twenty-two year career at Asbury University he conducted the Concert Band and taught courses in conducting and instrumental music education.  He lives in Wilmore, Kentucky. Dr. Lynn G. Cooper retired in 2007 as Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Music at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. During his twenty-two year career at Asbury University he conducted the Concert Band and taught courses in conducting and instrumental music education. Prior to his appointment at Asbury University he taught in the public schools of Michigan for nineteen years. The last fourteen of those years were spent developing an outstanding band program at Ypsilanti High School. He also founded and conducted the Ypsilanti Community Band, an excellent adult concert ensemble. Dr. Cooper is an active adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor, and author. A frequent presenter at professional conferences, Dr. Cooper has given clinic-lectures at state, regional, and national conferences throughout the United States. He presented at the MENC National Conference, the Texas Bandmasters Association Conference, and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. He served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) for sixteen years, including a two-year term as President. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the KMEA in 2009. Dr. Cooper serves as Chair of the KMEA Band Music Selection Committee. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Center for Music Education at Sam Houston State University in Texas. Dr. Cooper received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The University of Michigan, and his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Lynn G. Cooper retired in 2007 as Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Music at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. During his twenty-two year career at Asbury University he conducted the Concert Band and taught courses in conducting and instrumental music education. Prior to his appointment at Asbury University he taught in the public schools of Michigan for nineteen years. The last fourteen of those years were spent developing an outstanding band program at Ypsilanti High School. He also founded and conducted the Ypsilanti Community Band, an excellent adult concert ensemble. Dr. Cooper is an active adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor, and author. A frequent presenter at professional conferences, Dr. Cooper has given clinic-lectures at state, regional, and national conferences throughout the United States. He presented at the MENC National Conference, the Texas Bandmasters Association Conference, and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. He served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) for sixteen years, including a two-year term as President. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the KMEA in 2009. Dr. Cooper serves as Chair of the KMEA Band Music Selection Committee. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Center for Music Education at Sam Houston State University in Texas. Dr. Cooper received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The University of Michigan, and his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Kentucky.

Introduction and Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi PART I: THE BEGINNING PROGRAM Chapter One: Laying the Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Roles and Goals . 3 Five Principles . 14 Instructional Groupings . 16 Instrumentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Chapter Two: Recruiting and Retaining Beginning Students . . 23 Recruitment Strategies . 23 Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Data Gathering . . 28 Activities and Resources . 29 Aptitude Testing . 36 Student Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Chapter Three: Planning for Success . . 43 Materials . . 43 The First Lessons . . 46 Lesson Plans . 49 Teaching Middle School Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Student Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Teacher Self-Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 G-9084revision.indd 5 8/21/15 5:07 PM PART II: THE SECONDARY PROGRAM Chapter Four: Building a Curriculum . 69. Program Balance . . 69 The Instrumental Program . 69 The Total Secondary Music Program . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 What to Teach . . 72 Non-Performance Courses . 72 Concert Ensembles . . 72 Other Ensembles . . 75 Marching Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Jazz Ensemble . 76 Pep Band . . 80 Chamber Ensembles . 81 String Ensembles . . 82 Community Bands and Orchestras . . 82 Course Descriptions . . 83 Sequential Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Scheduling Issues . . 87 Chapter Five: Selecting Literature and Organizing the Music Library . . 95 “ Good” Music . . 95 A Good Match . . 96 The Search . 96 The Selection . . 99 A Core Repertoire . 100 The Band and Orchestra Library . . 108 Music Purchases . 108 Music Library Organization . 111 Large Ensemble Music . . 112 Solo and Ensemble Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Music Library Facilitation . 117 Summary . . 121 Teaching Band and Orchestra Lynn Cooper vi G-9084revision.indd 6 8/21/15 5:07 PM Chapter Six: Running Effective Rehearsals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Quality Rehearsals . . 125 A Success Plan . 126 The Daily Plan— Rehearsal Content . 128 Warm-up Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Ensemble Intonation . 131 Technique Building in the Ensemble . 132 Problem-Solving Time . 134 Ensemble Sight-Reading . 136 Rehearsal Closure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Rehearsal Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Teaching Ensemble Sight-Reading . 140 Importance . . 140 Skill Development . 140 Suggestions . . 141 Final Thoughts on Sight-Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Chapter Seven: Performances and Programming . . . . . . . . . . 147. The Performance Schedule . . 147. Concert Logistics and Concerns . 150 Reminders for Conductors . . 154 Audience Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Programs and Ushers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Summary . . 169 Chapter Eight: Considering Some Core Issues . 173. Motivation and Discipline . 173 The Problem . 173 Some Solutions . . 176 Enhancing the Learning Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Major Events . . 181 Festivals and Contests . 181 Festival Hosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Suggestions for Festival Performances . 194 Ensemble Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Competition for Music Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Table of Contents vii G-9084revision.indd 7 8/21/15 5:07 PM Chapter Nine: Organizing and Administering the Program . . . . . 213 Program Organization . 213 Band and Orchestra Handbooks . . 214 Forms and Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Music Student Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Student Awards Program . . 230 Facilities and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231