As the end of the year approaches, and with summer vacation on the horizon, it can be difficult to keep your students engaged at the end of the year. How can you successfully wrap up your school year? What do you have your students work on if they’ve already performed their end-of-year concert? How will you keep students engaged over the summer months? Answers to all these and more can be found in our ‘How to keep your students engaged at the end of the year’ handout with content from the experts at BandDirectorsTalkShop.com. Handout highlights include: Games like Musical Jeopardy and “Beat the Director” Activities teaching aural skills, rhythmic dictation and instrument care Summer retention strategies Social media plans summer months Student and staff recognition methods Books to read on your summer vacation Program evaluation techniques And more! Download the handout
December 15, 2025 David Solar Join Us at the 2026 Jazz Educators Network Conference in New Orleans The 2026 Jazz Educators Network Conference is just around the corner, taking place January 7–10 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Backstage Blog
December 11, 2025 Encore Tours Announcing the 2026 Encore Crescendo Contest Performance tours create moments that stay with you. A quiet warmup before the doors open. A view from the risers that captures the character of a venue. Backstage Blog
December 8, 2025 Encore Tours Encore Experiences: Behind the Curtain in Hungary The next chapter in our “Behind the Curtain” series, created for travelers who seek artistry, culture, and connection in every note. Backstage Blog