Robert Sheldon

“So, You Want to Be a Composer…”

Many music students and teachers have a desire to try their hand at writing or arranging music, but there are an enormous number of details and considerations, and there is no instruction manual for reference. This clinic discusses the topics and issues that are most often seen by editors who review submissions so as to help aspiring composers better prepare their scores.

---

“What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”

A student's first concert is a momentous occasion, whether it is their very first performance, their first performance of the year, or their first performance with you as director. This clinic will present numerous topics to consider in order to help make your band's performance memorable - in a GOOD way!

---

30 Performance Tips for Concert Band

After serving as a band director for 28 years at the middle school, high school and university levels, and guest conducting over 1000 ensembles in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces, as well as bands in Italy, Germany, Japan, China, Taiwan and Australia, Robert Sheldon reveals the challenges that are evident across the world as well as in all levels of ensembles. This clinic will address the thirty most common issues seen and not only discuss ways of dealing with them but demonstrate methods the attendees can use immediately with the assistance of a demo band. Topics will include expression, phrasing, tension and release, sequences, balance and blend, breathing, acoustics, instrument holding position, releases, issues related to the horn, and suggestions related to challenges with percussion techniques and placement. **This session requires a demonstration group.**

---

Creating Passionate Supporters of the Arts

Music teachers are in the best position to promote student advocacy for creating future audiences and supporters of music. Discover various methods of outreach and ways to engage students in making music a lifelong priority.

---

Developing a Sound-Driven Band Program

Learn methods for teaching your students to play with the best possible tone quality. This clinic discusses the various components of teaching and demonstrating good tone for concert band instruments using exemplary materials and time-tested methods of master teachers.

---

Fix it Now!

Robert Sheldon discusses a number of common problems and issues frequently seen in rehearsal rooms and offers quick and efficient solutions to increase teacher effectiveness. Topics covered include seating placement, posture, breathing, phrasing, intonation, and conducting.

---

From "meh..." to YEAH!

Conducting is a very personal method of conveying the meaning and emotion of music through non-verbal communication. Many suggestions are offered and examples provided to help conductors make informed decisions about literature, tempo, body language, facial expression, and determining where to direct their attention while conducting an ensemble.

---

Steps to Expressive Success

Robert Sheldon will discuss innovative ways to enhance expression in your ensemble performance, with a focus on tension and release, balance, and phrasing. Other important topics include music selection, rehearsal planning, and assessment that contribute to teacher effectiveness.

---

Teach Your Band to Sight-Read: Tips for Decoding Music Effectively

At its most basic level, sight-reading is authentic music literacy, and answers the question: “Can I accurately decode and execute the music before me without assistance?” Every director wants their students to be better at this. In this session, a tool kit of effective strategies for making students better readers and interpreters of music will be shared. Participants will learn many effective strategies for teaching better music reading, plus a preview of Alfred Music’s new “Sound Innovations Sound Sight- Reading” method!

---

Teach Your Students to Compose Themselves!

Robert Sheldon shares his insight and experience in working with young composers. Teachers will learn how to get students started in the process of creating music, scoring, orchestration, and ways to inspire creativity and expression.

---

The Inside Story: A Composer’s Perspective on His Music

Many of Robert Sheldon’s compositions have become staples of the repertoire for concerts, festivals, and contests. Discover the inspiration and take a "behind the scenes" look into the creative process behind some of his most frequently performed pieces and newest compositions.

---

The Small-School Band

Band programs in small schools have challenges that are often quite different than bands at larger schools. Identifying specific issues that create difficulties in achieving success and finding solutions to them will include topics such as garnering community support, recruitment, overcoming scheduling conflicts, budgets, music selection, private teachers, poor instrumentation, keeping advanced students motivated, and concert programming.

---

We Got the Beat!

Keeping the percussion section engaged during rehearsal and finding ways to effectively teach students who reside in “drumland” is a challenge. Robert Sheldon discusses rehearsal techniques that involve and assist the percussion section from the podium, helping to establish well-rounded percussionists.

---

Writing Music for Wind and Percussion

Robert Sheldon, the composer of some of the most frequently performed music for school bands, discusses the creative process behind composing music for winds and percussion. Topics include current writing trends, commissions, publication, copyright, writing your own arrangements, and notation software.

Request Clinic