News & Views Friday, March 28, 2025

Category: Marching Band

Unleashing the Potential of the Musician’s Body 31 January, 2025

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists

Unleashing the Potential of the Musician’s Body (Timani: Anatomy and Exercises for Healthy Playing and Singing) by Tina Margareta Nilssen
“Unleashing the Potential of the Musician’s Body” offers clear and practical tools for music professionals, students, educators, movement specialists, and therapists working with musicians. You’ll learn about relevant anatomy – in particular, joints, muscles, and fascia – and get information on how the brain and movement are linked together. You’ll find dozens of illustrated performance-targeted exercises for all parts of the body, with specific instructions for different types of instruments as well as for singers. The exercises are designed to optimize movement and make playing or singing more effortless and expressive – and through this, access more musical potential. This book also touches on subjects such as warm-ups, pain, healthy living, and self-care tips.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

Leading as a Conductor 18 December, 2024

Leading as a Conductor: With Integrity of Heart and Skillful Hands by Tobin Stewart
Conducting is more than gesture, technique, and score study. Who we are as conductors is also critically important because character, integrity, and personality directly influence the way we connect with others.

Drawing from a deep well of research and years of experience, conductor and teacher Tobin Stewart identifies fourteen essential qualities of great leaders – vision, humility, and passion, to name a few – and applies these to leadership on and off the podium.

He shares candidly about his own successes and failures, and offers practical strategies, stories, quotes, and reflection questions designed to build character and develop the intangible traits of effective, compassionate leaders.

Equally suited for personal or classroom use, “Leading as a Conductor: With Integrity of Heart and Skillful Hands” closes the gap between technique and the heart and soul of being a conductor. A must-read for instrumental and choral educators at any stage of their career.

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Cartoons & More! New Cheer Packs for the Stands 30 August, 2024

recommended by Ken Tilger and Austin Swack, Band Education Specialists

Cartoon Hits arr. Matt Conaway & Matt Finger, Grade 3-4
Including the popular themes from Bluey, Doug, and Fairly Odd Parents, this entertaining collection of hit cartoon themes is perfect for time-outs or short stadium blasts!

Hip Hop Stadium Blasters XII (Drop the Hammer) by Dallas C. Burke, Medium Easy
Drop the Hammer on the opposing team with these three funky hip hop jams during your next time out!

In the End Zone (Cheer Pack) by Allen Gray, Medium Easy
Five short tunes to rock the stands during any timeout. This chart has it all from Latin to Rock to Hip Hop and even includes epic powerhouse quotes from the Firebird Suite!

Pep Grooves 2024 arr. Alan Keown, Medium Easy
The perfect set of 4 short drumline grooves that will rock the stands at your next sporting event!

Tight Timeouts arr. Tim Waters, Medium Easy
These six short, dynamic, fun and funky tunes are the perfect length to rock any time out!

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About the Authors:
A former band director, Ken taught grades 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in Central Ohio, and has been at Stanton’s since 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies. His interests include reading, history, traditional amusement parks, outdoor activities (especially hiking), and watching hockey.

Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!

From the Concert Hall to the Marching Field 21 August, 2024

recommended by Ken Tilger and Austin Swack, Band Education Specialists

An American In Paris Part 1 by George Gershwin/arr. Dave Henning, Medium
Competitive bands will love this powerful and epic treatment of Gershwin’s masterpiece “An American in Paris.”

An American In Paris Part 2 by George Gershwin/arr. Dave Henning, Medium Easy
Part 2 of Gershwin’s iconic “An American In Paris” starts somber before quicly building into a frantic pace. The chart crescendo’s to a majestic finish that will have the judges and audience on their feet!

Bolero by Maurice Ravel/arr. Allen Gray, Medium Easy
This classical gem from Maurice Ravel translates into a marching band arrangement that starts out soft with a beautiful elegant flute solo followed by a trumpet and mellophone duet. The arrangement keeps building every measure with the full band entering on the main theme followed by a truly epic crescendo to finish off this tune with a powerful statement.

Nessun Dorma (from Turandot) by Giacomo Puccini/arr. Chris Sharp & Carl Major, Medium Easy
This gorgeous classical masterpiece by Puccini from “Turandot” makes a truly epic vehicle for marching bands to both stir the crowd and blow down the pressbox!

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
A former band director, Ken taught grades 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in Central Ohio, and has been at Stanton’s since 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies. His interests include reading, history, traditional amusement parks, outdoor activities (especially hiking), and watching hockey.

Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!