Workshops 

Marshall Music offers a variety of  workshops that can be tailored to your situation for you and your music staff.  In addition to the workshops listed here our educational staff can offer their expertise in other areas you may require from uniform purchase to facility planning. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a workshop contact our school service department at 517 337-9700 ext. 301.

 Music

Developing Proficient Sight Reading Skills

William W. Gourley – band or orchestra
50 – 120 minutes

 Proficient sight reading skills enable ensembles to be more efficient in rehearsal and encourage individual practice. Utilizing a programmed approach students are able to build independent music making skills and become confident and proficient sight-readers.

Efficient Rehearsal Technique

William W. Gourley – band or orchestra
90 – 120 minutes

                        Score preparation
                        Eliminating the Road-Blocks-To-Success
                        Anticipating problem
                        Focusing the ears on sound
                        Ensemble unity
                        The Musicality Laws
                        Short cuts
                        Building the rehearsal schedule
                        Assessment

Memorable performances are the result of efficient rehearsal techniques including score preparation, ensemble skill development, attention to detail and musicality. A variety of strategies will be presented to maximize rehearsal time.

Inventory Assessment and Planning

William W. Gourley – band or orchestra
50 minutes

                        Inventory
                        Assessment
                        Needs
                        Maintenance
                        Replacement
                        Expansion
                        Projections
                        Prioritizing
                        Long term planning

It is important to maintain an instrument and uniform inventory in an orderly fashion to allow for efficient use of budgeted funds. This seminar will present a methodical approach to developing a comprehensive budget process necessary for maintaining an adequate inventory for our program.

Creating a Budget

William W. Gourley – band or orchestra
50 – 90 minutes

                        Instructional budget
                        Textbooks
                        Music
                        Fees
                        Maintenance
                        Inventory

This seminar will explore the many facets and often overlooked aspects for creating a comprehensive budget for your instrumental music program.

Getting Organized for Music Educators

William W. Gourley – band or orchestra
50 – 90 minutes

 Organizational duties are a daunting task. This month-by-month approach is a detailed presentation with a time line to assist the music educator to stay ahead of the job including strategies for handling fundraising, inventory, budget preparation, etc.

Band

Beginning Band

William W. Gourley - band
90 – 120 minutes

                        Posture
                        Tone Building
                        Rote to Note strategies
                        Repetition strategies
                        Pulse awareness
                        Building a tonal center
                        First concert

Beginning students require a solid foundation upon which to build their skills. A strong emphasis on aural learning creates students more focused on what they hear as they perform rather than what they see on the page. A model process will be presented to develop tone, blend, balance, pulse, ensemble unity and ear-to-hand proficiency in the beginning band class.

Pedagogical Development of the Intermediate and Advanced Band Student

William W. Gourley - band
90 – 120 minutes

                        Tone production
                        Brass flexibility
                        Technical fluidity
                        Range development
                        Percussion proficiency
                        Tonguing
                        Rhythmic proficiency
                        Ensemble unity
                        Tuning
                        Blend and balance

There are few ensembles fortunate enough to have all members studying privately. A carefully planned, sequential, pedagogical approach for the developing student in a full band class can produce proficient ensembles without the advantages of private study.

Improving Band Tone, Intonation and Ensemble Unity

William W. Gourley – band
50 – 90 minutes

The reason it doesn't sound good is because it doesn't sound good.  It is imperative that a band demonstrate good ensemble blend and balance and uniformity of movement. to achieve a quality performance.  Correct notes and rhythms are of little value when ensemble tone is not refined. There are quick fix strategies that can dramatically improve the band sound. This seminar includes strategies to immediately improve blend and balance thereby improving intonation for beginners as well as advanced bands. Other exercises for improving intonation and ensemble unity will be presented. This may be done with an ensemble or in seminar form.

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