Hit the Right Notes
Don Stinson
I write for music brands that want to be the obvious, credible choice for educators.
Content strategy, educator-trusted writing, and practical systems that actually get used.
Selected Work
I’ve authored 200+ educator-facing articles for international music brands, including Yamaha.
This work has been featured on brand homepages, email campaigns, and republished across retailer networks.
About
I’ve been an educator since 2007 and a working band director for most of that time. I’ve spent my career inside real school programs—urban, suburban, and Title I—dealing with the same budget limits, parent questions, and decision pressures teachers face every day.Today, I help music retailers and manufacturers translate their products into clear, educator-trusted content that actually gets read, shared, and used. My work has been published nationally and used to improve educator trust, parent clarity, and product adoption—without sounding like marketing.
Weekly Open-Source Content for Music Retailers Who Want Educator Trust
Every week: a complete, open-source article example - plus a short explanation of why it works.
Written for music retailers who support school band and orchestra programs.Clear, practical content that helps families make better decisions — and helps music programs run more smoothly.
Testimonials & Clients
"Don has written freelance articles for the Yamaha educator blog for more than six years and during that time, he has delivered the trifecta of creativity, writing skills and timeliness. As a veteran music educator and subject matter expert, Don comes up with unique article topics for the blog, each relevant and relatable. Through his articles, he offers sage advice to music educators, celebrating the joys of music-making with his students at Joliet Central High School near Chicago, as well as managing the challenges and struggles of the profession."Lisa MacDonald,
Director of Vertical Marketing
Yamaha
"We love working with Don. He pitches great ideas, informed by his years as a music educator. His writing style is conversational, humorous and very readable. And he requires very little editing. We get a ton of value from his pieces, and our audience does too."Matthew Fenton
Director of Strategy and Marketing
Bob Rogers Travel
"Don delivered an inspiring and engaging closing address to our team. It strongly reinforced the importance of travel in education, which is perfectly aligned with our company mission. My favorite takeaway was "it's about more than travel - it's about possibility, belonging, and hope." Thank you, Don, for reminding all of us what we truly do, and why."Tami Rogers
Co-CEO
Bob Rogers Travel
“Don’s presentation was exceptionally well received. He shared real classroom examples, engaged educators in meaningful conversation, and offered practical perspectives that challenged how we think about teaching. His work made a lasting impression on our music teachers.”Jim Kirkpatrick
President, North Carolina Bandmasters Association
“Don Stinson does a masterful job of giving educators clarity, insight, and language for the parts of teaching we’re rarely trained for. His work is an invaluable resource across contexts, regardless of subject, setting, or resources.”Jon Bubbet
Review published in School Band and Orchestra Magazine
“Our booster organization struggled to gain traction. Then, we worked with Don. He helped us focus our goals, identify the right supporters, and secure early momentum. Don understands how to communicate clearly and move people to action.”Peter Lipari
Director of Orchestras, Joliet Township High Schools
“Before working with Don, we weren’t sure how to clearly communicate our fundraising goal or gain momentum. He simplified the process, helped us organize our message, and made it easy for people to support our program. The result was a successful campaign that met our goal quickly.”Jason Arcand
Secretary, Joliet High School Orchestra Parents Association
Get in Touch
If you’re responsible for educator-facing content and want to talk, please reach out. Email me here: [email protected]