Don Stinson
@donstinson.bsky.social
Music Educator & Copywriter for Music Brands | Helping Retailers Become the Obvious Choice for School Programs
This isn’t about rankings or ads.
It’s about whether your rental explanations are clear enough to be reused by AI tools before parents ever call.
It’s about whether your rental explanations are clear enough to be reused by AI tools before parents ever call.
December 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This isn’t about rankings or ads.
It’s about whether your rental explanations are clear enough to be reused by AI tools before parents ever call.
It’s about whether your rental explanations are clear enough to be reused by AI tools before parents ever call.
Students already live in a different music world.
Show them real paths - recording, audio, production - and they stay engaged.
Schools may be behind.Students aren’t.
Show them real paths - recording, audio, production - and they stay engaged.
Schools may be behind.Students aren’t.
December 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Students already live in a different music world.
Show them real paths - recording, audio, production - and they stay engaged.
Schools may be behind.Students aren’t.
Show them real paths - recording, audio, production - and they stay engaged.
Schools may be behind.Students aren’t.
When I started teaching the kids in front of me instead of the ones I "wished" I had, everything changed.
What are you modeling?
What are you modeling?
December 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM
When I started teaching the kids in front of me instead of the ones I "wished" I had, everything changed.
What are you modeling?
What are you modeling?
If the kids are burned out, you may have too many performances or music that's too hard.
If they're bored, you're not challenging them.
If they're disconnected, they don't have space to master the basics.
Your ensemble's performance isn't based on talent. Its direction.
If they're bored, you're not challenging them.
If they're disconnected, they don't have space to master the basics.
Your ensemble's performance isn't based on talent. Its direction.
December 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If the kids are burned out, you may have too many performances or music that's too hard.
If they're bored, you're not challenging them.
If they're disconnected, they don't have space to master the basics.
Your ensemble's performance isn't based on talent. Its direction.
If they're bored, you're not challenging them.
If they're disconnected, they don't have space to master the basics.
Your ensemble's performance isn't based on talent. Its direction.
One piece AT their grade level - confidence. They hear themselves sounding like a real ensemble.
One piece ABOVE - growth. Challenge that's attainable, not impossible.
One piece BELOW - musicianship. Now you can actually work on balance, intonation, & phrasing.
One piece ABOVE - growth. Challenge that's attainable, not impossible.
One piece BELOW - musicianship. Now you can actually work on balance, intonation, & phrasing.
December 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
One piece AT their grade level - confidence. They hear themselves sounding like a real ensemble.
One piece ABOVE - growth. Challenge that's attainable, not impossible.
One piece BELOW - musicianship. Now you can actually work on balance, intonation, & phrasing.
One piece ABOVE - growth. Challenge that's attainable, not impossible.
One piece BELOW - musicianship. Now you can actually work on balance, intonation, & phrasing.
Students need to be believed in before they'll believe in themselves.
That's the foundation of music education. Not stereotypes.
That's the foundation of music education. Not stereotypes.
December 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Students need to be believed in before they'll believe in themselves.
That's the foundation of music education. Not stereotypes.
That's the foundation of music education. Not stereotypes.
When we got back to school, my students weren't surprised.
They told me they were used to it.
They told me they were used to it.
December 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
When we got back to school, my students weren't surprised.
They told me they were used to it.
They told me they were used to it.
At a festival, a director from another school heard his students call my band "the ghetto band."
He laughed.
He laughed.
December 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
At a festival, a director from another school heard his students call my band "the ghetto band."
He laughed.
He laughed.