Saying “no” may sound easy, but it’s really very complicated. “No” is one of the shortest complete sentences, but it carries significant emotional weight for some people.

How do you decide when to say “yes” and, more importantly, when to say “no”?

The word selfish gets a bad rap. By definition, it’s “lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure.” Why is selfish considered a negative trait? If I don't put myself first, who else will?

I once heard a music professor say, "if everything is accented, nothing is accented." We've all seen a 16-bar phrase of music with every note accented. When we play the ink precisely as it is written, the music sounds like the teacher from Charlie Brown — monotonous, boring and predictable. I've often translated this lesson to other parts of my life…..

Time is a precious commodity. As music teachers, we not only have to protect classroom time, but we have to carve out a few minutes (or hours!) here and there to take care of our must-do, non-negotiable tasks.

Don Stinson proves that you can go home again. Stinson is the director of bands at the high school he attended — Joliet Central High School. “I’ve thought about teaching at Joliet Central since I was 14,” he said. “Being only the fifth director in the program’s 110-year history is very daunting, but the students continue to rise to the challenge of honoring our band’s history and innovating for the next generation.”

A sample chapter from Don’s book “High Needs, Monumental Successes.”

One of the most effective actions we can take as music teachers is to seek an understanding of our entire school and community and not just our music program.

A sample chapter from Don’s book “High Needs, Monumental Successes.”

Yes, you read the title of this article correctly — please proceed with caution because this topic may offend most music teachers.

I teach at Joliet Central High School, a low-income, high-needs population school and serve as the ensemble director, chamber ensemble director, general music teacher and even applied instructor. It’s a lot to handle.

The Yale University office of undergraduate admissions announced that Joliet Central High School counselor Natalie O'Connell and band director Don Stinson have been selected as recipients of the 2020 Yale Educator Award.

My high school band director, Mr. Ted Lega - He was encouraging and inspiring to us and he treated us like artists. He made us love who were and I wanted to be like him when I grew up. I would be remiss if I did not credit every teacher I had. Life was a little bit difficult growing up, but ……

We all experience something for the first time throughout our lives. We don’t come into this world experienced and full of wisdom. And yes, some of these issues are commonplace, but it’s still stressful, especially the first time we deal with them.

I was scheduled to write an article toward the end of the year about the importance of being a mentor, but I received an email in midsummer from my editor at Yamaha, asking if I would be interested in a real-world mentoring opportunity that I could then write about.

You do the work, get your observation hours, complete student teaching, get your degree and land your first job. You have the training, credentials, experience and potential to be a great teacher. Yet, when it comes to your abilities, you don’t want to appear too confident.

Why not?

I had an identity crisis during my first few years of teaching. I had to wade through the stressors of a new job, getting an ensemble ready for a performance within days of school starting, and trying to balance a personal life. I had an idea of who I wanted to be, but I wasn’t exactly sure of who I was at that particular moment.

The key takeaway is: You are not alone, and you don’t have to do this yourself. With a bit of initiative, you can find ways to directly improve your teaching and expand your networks outside of your once- or twice-a-year professional development conferences. The following suggestions are real situations where I forced myself to go beyond my comfort zone to grow personally and professionally.

Instrument repairs can be costly in both time and money. Surprises like the situation above can derail an entire rehearsal. Here are some common techniques, alternative approaches and money-saving tips to deal with instrument issues.

A good resume is the first step in landing a job interview. Below are some tips to improve your chances of standing out in a pile.

Interviewing for a job can be stressful, especially during the early years of your career. Below are some tips taken from my experiences as an interviewee and as an interviewer.

During an interview, you’ll be asked a battery of questions, but remember that it’s essential for you to ask the interview committee questions, too.

People change jobs for various reasons. When the time comes to change jobs, business and stress can take over. As with many new experiences, there isn’t always an owner’s manual for what to do.

Furthermore, emotions on different sides cloud judgment and make the process even more difficult. Below are some things to consider when pursuing or accepting a new job.

Look into any successful music program, and you’re bound to find some sort of system. Teachers may use different method books, classes may look different, and students may be playing different music, but successful groups often have a system of routines and habits that teachers and students rely on.

The Bandmasters Podcast highlights some of the top teachers in the world of music education. We hope you can use these interviews as “free professional development” all year round!

Don Stinson (35) has a conversation with his student Noah Riley (17) about their community in Joliet, Illinois, the role of music education, and their journey in the high school band.

Donald Stinson is the 5th director in the Joliet (IL) High School Band's 108 year history. Here is a young man with a passion to influence his students' lives through music and the rich traditions that made Joliet one of America's finest band programs.

The author of High Needs, Monumental Successes, Don Stinson is the band director at Joliet Central HS in Joliet, IL and has many strategies to be the best educator possible for students who come from low-income households.

VanderCook College of Music performance at the 2006 Midwest Clinic. Featured Soloists are Chris Martin of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Michael Martin of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Dr. Leah Schuman of VanderCook, Don Stinson, Jessica Musgrave, and Steve Pyter.

Profiles with Richard Fredrickson interviews Don Stinson about the Joliet Band ……………………….

The Joliet Township Band is one of the oldest band programs in the country and the first student ensemble to perform at the Midwest Clinic. Don Stinson, Joliet Central's Director of Bands, talks about the current program and what it means for his students to be a part of the 75th Anniversary Midwest Clinic.