• Latest
  • Trending
You Go Back, Jack, and Do It Again…

I’m Changin’ All Those Changes

November 12, 2021

I Love ASTA!

July 1, 2025
Technology: DAW Bundles

Features You Must Have in a Small Portable USB Audio Interface!

June 28, 2025
Choosing the Right Microphone(s) to Record Your Choral Rehearsal

Choosing the Right Microphone(s) to Record Your Choral Rehearsal

June 28, 2025
Best Budget Microphones for High School Podcasting

Best Budget Microphones for High School Podcasting

June 30, 2025
The Midwest Clinic Announces 2025 Clinicians and Performers

The Midwest Clinic Announces 2025 Clinicians and Performers

June 28, 2025
Running the Race

Running the Race

June 26, 2025
Sharpening the Tools in Your Toolkit

Sharpening the Tools in Your Toolkit

June 24, 2025
Treat Your Ears to Recordings of Upcoming Jazz Charts

Treat Your Ears to Recordings of Upcoming Jazz Charts

June 24, 2025
Several Shades of Green: One Size Does Not Fit All

Several Shades of Green: One Size Does Not Fit All

June 24, 2025
Get Them and Keep Them!

Get Them and Keep Them!

June 24, 2025
Behind the Curtain Tips on Evaluating Music for Your Jazz Ensemble

Behind the Curtain Tips on Evaluating Music for Your Jazz Ensemble

June 24, 2025
Why Flex?

Why Flex?

June 24, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
  • Contact
SBO+
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Departments
    • Choral
    • Concert Band
    • Jazz
    • Marching Band
    • Modern Band
    • New Products
    • Orchestra
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Technology
    • Theater
    • Tone Deaf Comics
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • Upclose
      • Features
      • Commentary
        • InService
      • Advocacy
        • MAC Corner
        • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Departments
    • Choral
    • Concert Band
    • Jazz
    • Marching Band
    • Modern Band
    • New Products
    • Orchestra
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Technology
    • Theater
    • Tone Deaf Comics
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • Upclose
      • Features
      • Commentary
        • InService
      • Advocacy
        • MAC Corner
        • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
SBO+
No Result
View All Result

I’m Changin’ All Those Changes

November 12, 2021
in Archives, Perspective, November 2021
0
You Go Back, Jack, and Do It Again…

Musician/Publisher Mike Lawson photographed by Michael Weintrob for the Instrument Head collection

Share on Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

The old saying, “The only constant in life is change” is swinging into action with SBO under my new ownership, mostly a shuffling of a few things.

First, we adjusted the timing of the SBO Scholarship Essay Contest, and will announce it and mail a poster with the December 2021 issue. The essay contest will conclude the end of March, and our May issue will announce the recipients. Thanks to everyone writing in to ask when it was happening. I took over ownership of the magazine group in June, and our primary long-term partner sponsor, the NAMM Foundation, had focused on their own pending changes to 2022 and committed to the new underwriting of the scholarships a couple of months after they normally did. That said, the timing always bothered me a bit. I felt like the first half of the year should be focused on back-to-school band, and let the students have that time for more important things than essays, which we could do the end of the year and conclude before the end of the school year. So, that’s one change.

The essay contest will be open only to students enrolled in a public or private K-12 school instrumental music program, and not to privately-taught music students, or outside programs not directly involved with K-12 instrumental music instruction.

ADVERTISEMENT

Another change I have wanted to do since I came aboard in 2014 was to move the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” issue to a different month than December. I am moving the 50 Directors Who Make a Difference issue to February.

The timing was a tradition I inherited, but having helped publish that issue since then, it was very clear that contacting band directors in October with a November deadline for them to deliver a photo and answers to three questions was a major distraction for them (even if it is an awesome honor to be included), and exhausting for the magazine staff. Rounding up photos and info and answers to three questions from one band director in every state is akin to herding kittens, so if we can help make it easier for everyone by changing the time of year, all the better. It won’t really be better for me personally, because no matter what, the fall and on into spring, in “normal” times, I am traveling exhaustively for tradeshows and MEA conferences. However, I can work wherever I am with my MacBook Pro. Band directors cannot.

I once asked why it was slated for December when it was created over 20 years ago, and was told it was to provide a good issue for the Midwest Band Clinic. That just didn’t seem to be the right answer for me going forward. It will still coincide with a massive music education trade show and conference, the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) event. That show is actually considerably larger than Midwest Band Clinic, though we will still exhibit and attend Midwest.

ADVERTISEMENT

This will allow band directors to get through with annual holiday concert preparation, and will be after marching season for football games have concluded. We will start contacting band directors in December and January, along with their administration, to make the announcement of selection for the issue. Our December issue will instead focus on an annual director survey, and give 50 directors a break in the fall from having to work on their being honored in time for the December issue, which meant having answers and photos in by the middle of November, with all kinds of fall breaks, rehearsals, and other important work the was placing a burden on them. Well, some of them. The issue was impossible to produce during COVID last year when many of the programs were in limbo, or virtual, or any other number of scenarios across the country.

ADVERTISEMENT

Our annual Best Tools for Schools designation will shift to the July issue, since the annual Winter NAMM show is being moved to June in Anaheim in 2022, to allow for better planning of their sure-to-be triumphant comeback after a very arduous year for the tradeshow business in general.

Often, a change will do you good. And I think a change will do us some good at SBO. If you have other ideas for changes, I’m all ears. Send them over.

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Manhattan School of Music Reopens Performances to the Public

Next Post

Essential Tips and Tricks for Teaching Woodwinds in the Classroom- Part 2

Next Post
Essential Tips and Tricks for Teaching Woodwinds in the Classroom- Part 2

Essential Tips and Tricks for Teaching Woodwinds in the Classroom- Part 2

Please login to join discussion
ADVERTISEMENT
  • June 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • May 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • April 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • March 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • February 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
© 2005 - 2025 artistpro, LLC
7012 City Center Way, Suite 207
Fairview, Tennessee 37062
(800) 682-8114

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Departments
    • Choral
    • Concert Band
    • Jazz
    • Marching Band
    • Modern Band
    • New Products
    • Orchestra
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Technology
    • Theater
    • Tone Deaf Comics
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • Upclose
      • Features
      • Commentary
      • Advocacy
      • Perspective
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!

© 2005 - 2024 artistpro, LLC 7012 City Center Way, Suite 207 Fairview, Tennessee 37062 (800) 682-8114

Wenger EndurAd Promo