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
November 2, 2026 Encore Tours Venue Spotlight: Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral Explore St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna: its history, its deep ties to Haydn and Mozart, and what it’s like for your ensemble to perform there. Backstage Blog
October 27, 2026 Encore Tours Music Tour Planning Mistakes: 7 Horror Stories to Avoid Every music director has heard one. The tour where the price went up after families had already paid. The concert where the ensemble outnumbered the audience. Backstage Blog
October 21, 2026 Encore Tours Meet Encore Tours at the 2026 Midwest Clinic Encore Tours is heading to The 80th Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, taking place December 16–18, 2026, at McCormick Place West in Chicago. Backstage Blog