Over the past 70 years and counting, Music & Arts has expanded from a single location in southern Maryland to the nation’s No. 1 provider of instrument rentals, product sales, repairs and private music lessons.
Throughout all that astounding growth, our mission has remained the same: to fill the world with music, and to serve educators teaching the next generation of musicians.
RENTALS
We make instrument rentals and upgrades work for your students and their families. With flexible payment plans, pay-to-purchase options and free shipping, our rental program fits any budget.
Let your local Ed Rep handle all your rental needs. For your students’ convenience, we can host rental events at your school or online. Students can also rent from one of our 250+ retail stores.
MEET YOUR ED REP
The neighborhood miracle worker who keeps your program running smoothly
Who are the 220+ Music & Arts Educational Representatives across the nation? Professional musicians and educators, based right in your area, whose occupation is to make your life easier. Let your Ed Rep:
• Organize every aspect of your rental program, including hosting rental and instrument demo events and fittings at your school or virtually
• Handle your repairs, including pick-up, drop-off and tracking specific instruments throughout the process
• Take care of all your classroom needs, from printed music to furniture to audio equipment
• Assist with program recruitment, rental preferences, shopping lists and much more
Need something else? Our Educator Call Center has 30+ customer-service associates at the ready
TESTIMONIALS
“Mrs. Grossnicklaus’ hard work, dedication and commitment to our district’s music education has been invaluable. Her efforts have not only ensured the smooth functioning of our music programs but have also enriched the educational experience of our students.”
Christopher Burns Fine & Performing Arts Resource Specialist Osceola County Kissimmee, FL
“We continue to use Music & Arts as our primary resource for orders, rentals and more, because of our Ed Rep, Neal Reinhard. Our relationship with Neal has been wonderful. We truly feel like we’re more than just customers. That relationship makes everything less stressful.”
Tim Spangler High School Band Director Upper Merion School District Montgomery County, PA
“I have worked with MaryBeth from Music & Arts for the past eight years. In that time, we’ve formed a terrific friendship. MaryBeth has helped us with everything from purchasing new instruments to teaching lessons during her weekly visits. We consider her a part of our band program.”
Nathan Hines Band Director
J.M. Morehead High School Eden, NC
“In nine years of teaching, John Hamlin’s support through Music &
BE PART OF THE MUSIC
Save time and money with our retention and teaching resources
Founded and headed by music-education thought leader Scott Lang, Be Part of the Music is Music & Arts’ premier platform for recruitment, retention and advocacy.
Educators at every level will find an array of cost-free resources that will save them time, inspire new ideas for teaching, and fuel their students’ love of music-making.
Consider Be Part of the Music your go-to destination for invaluable classroom resources—whether you’re a veteran band and orchestra director or just getting your program off the ground.
Rehearsing is hard enough LET US TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING ELSE.
Through Be Part of the Music, educators have access to
Downloadable documents, in English and Spanish, including admin letters, advocacy emails, letters to parents and more
In-school instrument demos and fittings. We bring a world-class music store to your school
A comprehensive advocacy program with initiatives including Project Imagine, Grants, Growth & Gratitude, Teacher Appreciation Week and the State of Music
THE BEST (AND MOST) INSTRUMENTS, ON YOUR STUDENTS’ TERMS
The largest inventory of instruments and accessories, period. That means whatever your students need, they’ll get. Create your program’s shopping list using our industry-leading selection of in-stock products
WE DO RENTALS RIGHT
Students can rent online, from one of our 250+ retail stores, or at convenient rental events. Enjoy personalized rental events in as little as 24 hours, either on-site or virtual, with free delivery options to the student’s home, school or local store
Returns, exchanges and purchases with no longterm commitment—and rental payments count toward the student’s instrument purchase!
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION THAT WORKS
Our Ed Reps customize a recruiting program that works for you, including instrument demonstrations and fittings. Find talent for your ensembles using our wide selection of 100% free marketing resources
THE BOOKS & SCHOOL SUPPLIES YOU CHOOSE
Even if students decide not to rent their instrument with Music & Arts, we got them. Create a list of books and school supplies they’ll need for the year. Every grade, program and instrument—fully customized for your students
FOCUS ON FUN. Let Us Handle the Rest.
RENTALS
The Nation’s Largest Service Network
Simply put, we’re No. 1: With more than 220 full-time Ed Reps, 30 Educator Call Center associates, 200 expertly trained repair techs, over 250 retail locations and 2,500 professional lessons instructors, our School Services team is the biggest in the industry. All those numbers add up to the absolute best support for your program and your students.
REPAIRS
Fast, Convenient, Guaranteed
• Once again, we’re No. 1: Music & Arts boasts the largest full-service instrument repair network, with 200+ professional repair technicians at 140 facilities
• We deliver the highest-quality repairs, the fastest turnaround times and the most convenient ways to drop off and pick up
• Our state-of-the-art facilities and multi-point inspection ensure like-new instruments
• Let your Ed Rep handle your repairs. If they prefer, students can make arrangements online or at their nearest Music & Arts
• All major instruments, all service needs, including sanitation. If it makes music, chances are we can clean and repair it
PRODUCTS
If You Need It, We Have It
Our unrivaled inventory includes over 150,000 products from educator-preferred brands, with more added constantly
Print still rules: sheet music, band literature, method books and more. Educators receive 20% off of most brands
Every kind of classroom product your younger students can shake, hit or blow— from recorders to Boomwhackers to Orff
Instruments and more
Document your ensembles or produce a great-sounding concert with our vast selection of live sound and recording gear
FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Register for a commercial account on our Educator website. You’ll receive:
• Special discounts
• Free shipping direct to your school
• Share shopping carts with administrators
• Pay with ACH, PO, invoice or P-Card directly online
• School Financing Options are available with BGE Financial, a NAMM-endorsed provider
ON THE ROAD
We’re everywhere! From coast to coast, Music & Arts exhibits at over 40 Music Education Conferences. Stop by our booth to say hello to the local team and enjoy:
• Gear giveaways, free classroom materials and other prizes
• Exclusive deals on instruments, accessories, music and more
• One-on-one booth tours and conversations covering our products and School Services
5 HABITS
OF A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE BAND & ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR
As a band and orchestra director, you have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on children’s lives. Whether you’re starting your first position or have decades of experience, it’s important to continue growing as a professional.
In this article, you’ll learn about five key habits that can help band and orchestra directors find success.
1: BUILD A POSITIVE CLASSROOM CULTURE
Classroom culture is developed one day at a time, so you likely won’t see results overnight. But if you communicate and reinforce high standards of musicianship and personal accountability, you will see dramatic improvements.
Teach students habits for a successful concert through daily behavior.
Try using the phrase, “If we don’t do this in a performance, we don’t do it in rehearsal.”
Use incentives and group activities to help promote accountability.
Try putting students in teams where they can earn or lose points based on behavior and performance. By “gamifying” the classroom, you will
encourage students to self-regulate their behavior and perform better.
Be consistent.
This may seem obvious, but it’s harder than it sounds. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
2: BE REALISTIC, WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR STUDENTS
Being a band and orchestra director is a demanding job. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Stay focused on why you got into this.
You love music and educating new generations of musicians. Focus on the incredible sense of fulfillment that brings.
Find time to appreciate the wins.
Amidst the whirlwind, there are times when students give remarkable performances, discover the beauty of music, or find their place in a friend group because of band and orchestra.
Play music that makes your students sound good.
It’s natural to want to play impressive music. But it takes time for students to get there, and your band can suffer if you rush things. Start slowly, help students build proficiency and confidence, then move up to the dazzling pieces.
3: KEEP GROWING AS A MUSICIAN
Your strength as an educator is directly related to your passion for music. So never allow that passion to cool off and affect your enthusiasm in the classroom.
Proudly play your main instrument.
When it’s appropriate, play your primary instrument along with your students. With any luck, your enthusiasm for performance will spread throughout the band.
Improve your knowledge of different instruments by playing along with your students.
Try expanding your repertoire by performing class warm-ups on a different instrument every week.
Play ahead of your students.
Stay a few weeks ahead of your students in their book. As you learn from your own experience, you’ll gain techniques for passing that knowledge along in the classroom.
4: PRACTICE GOOD CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Grading, organizing music libraries, keeping accurate instrument inventory, filing competition applications—there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.
Develop systems early on.
Replicable systems keep you from having to reinvent the wheel whenever you handle a task. Determine what grading expectations your school or district office has for the program and create grading sheets for all your activities.
Stay organized.
Between music literature, instrument inventory and other items, you likely have the most expensive room in the whole school. Keep track of everything using online spreadsheets that can’t be lost and can be edited on the fly.
5: DEVELOP A GOOD SELF-CARE ROUTINE
It probably feels like a lot of your time is dedicated to facilitating things for others. And while that’s noble, remember to prioritize yourself too.
Stay physically active.
Physical activity is closely related to mental well-being, which in turn will make you happier, healthier and more effective in your role. When engaged in sedentary work, take regular breaks to move and stretch. Also, try and make healthy food choices—even when you’re on the road for competitions.
Nurture
your joy in music.
Even though it’s your job, try to prevent music education from feeling like your primary stressor. Instead, listen to music and discover new tracks as a source of stress relief.
No doubt you’re eager to implement one or more of these habits to further optimize your own program. As you do, be patient, realistic and intentional with yourself and your students. Good luck!
