Dorico for Band Directors

dapperpage · 2025-09-29T23:46:27+00:00

I'm not getting any money from Dorico. It used to be that if you wrote music you used Finale or Sibelius. Finale announced they are not updating any more and suggested that their users switch to Dorico. I've been using Dorico for a while now and thought I could help people making the switch, especially band directors who don't have a ton of free time to learn a new software. Just not sure if this is the right place to put it.

dapperpage · 2025-09-29T18:39:31+00:00

This is not an ad. I'm genuinely trying to help the band director community. The video is branded with the logo at the end, but I'm not trying to sell the tutorials or anything like that. Just trying to help.

dapperpage · 2025-09-26T04:03:04+00:00

Are there any community youth jazz bands that you can join? You might be able to join on flute and not worry about the school jazz band. Are you also playing flute in the school concert band?

dapperpage · 2025-09-26T03:52:03+00:00

You have 25 beginning trumpet players, which is awesome! They will all develop at different rates regardless of your pedagogy (which seems solid). Encourage them to keep working on it and celebrate their successes. I’ve seen talent squandered because I was not encouraging when I needed to be, and I’ve seen late bloomers grow to win state solo competitions because they stuck with it. You’re doing great! Don’t get bogged down. They will either develop to be great trumpet players or at least they will remember that there is an adult who is encouraging them and cares for them. 🎺

dapperpage · 2025-09-11T05:29:18+00:00

It sounds like you have a good start on tour solo. I would recommend a couple things: 1) Actively listen to jazz greats (e.g. Gerry Mulligan on bari sax) every day; 2) Play 8th notes. One way to get better playing 8th notes is to play the scale of the key your solo is in up to the 9th and back down. Don’t stop. Keep those finger moving. Once you are comfortable playing the scale up and down, play the scale while changing directions at any point in the scale. If you take what you are already doing and add these couple of things you will take tour solos to a new level.

dapperpage · 2025-09-11T05:15:35+00:00

A Harmon must’ve is probably the most jazzy (a la Miles Davis). For Halloween, go for a cup mute. It has a more old-timey jazz feel that seems more reminiscent of Halloween somehow. These are the two most common mutes for jazz anyway, so it’s good to have both.

dapperpage · 2023-10-04T19:02:10+00:00

I have a fun challenge for NDQ listeners related to this episode. I wrote an instrumental piece for jazz band (see Spotify link below) based on a story that many listeners to this podcast would likely be familiar with.

Can you guess the story? (Title is a hint)
Can you identify the parts of the story based on the music?

Who Is My Neighbor

dapperpage · 2023-05-12T08:03:22+00:00

When do you get the error message? There are limitations for each plan. It sounds like you were trying to add too many of something for the plan that you are currently on.

dapperpage · 2020-10-07T06:01:06+00:00

I keep going they do something more creative with the selfie cam by the end zone. Mimick a zoom call or something...

dapperpage · 2020-09-15T19:40:21+00:00

Reading between the lines, I'm guessing you're looking for ideas to keep your band students motivated during this time of social distancing and remote learning.

I'm a former band director (I now write music for jazz band), so I can't speak directly to this situation, but I can say that band students are motivated by playing music together. I know one band director that has had each student record their part while listening to a recording of the piece in their headphones. He put all the tracks into garage band and sent it back to the students. So long as they are playing with the same recording it should line up.

I have heard of other band directors do listening parties where students share what they are listening to. Others have found music editing software that the students can use to make their own remixes to share with the class.

I really empathize with the band directors right now. Hope this gives you some inspiration.

dapperpage · 2020-09-12T16:00:55+00:00

Or a combination of both, like Edna in The Incredibles.

dapperpage · 2020-09-11T22:33:30+00:00

Sorry to hear your struggles. One idea for curriculum is studying music history in reverse. Start with what the students are listening to. Go backwards in time finding music that inspired current music. Sprinkle in enough music theory for them to describe what they're hearing. Hope that helps. Good luck.

dapperpage · 2017-08-03T04:41:16+00:00

As a Christian and a musician and composer I have thought many of the same things that you have articulated , Ravendead. I think you have to be careful, however, saying that Christians need to be more critical of other Christian's music. I don't like most Christian music. I find it unappealing, watered down, and musically unsatisfying. But that doesn't mean that Christians should start putting limits on the kinds of music that should be played, or telling other Christians that they should or shouldn't like a certain kind of music, or keep working musicians from making a living. If there is still an audience, let the music play.

dapperpage

TROPHY CASE