Show Them How

It's generally accepted that the more senses students use during the learning process the more information they will retain. A lecture about how to play an instrument is not as helpful as a lecture combined with a demonstration. The lecture/demonstration is more helpful if the students have their own instruments to play. Being able to hear, see, and feel how to play the instrument helps the students learn faster. If they could smell it and taste it, they might learn faster yet.

The same is true of most aspects of teaching band. Most of the directors I observed always had their instrument or instruments close. They would often pick them up and demonstrate. In other words, don't just tell them how to finger the note, also show them. Don't just tell them they are flat or sharp, also show them what the pitch is doing with a strobe. Don't just tell them they are playing the part wrong, play it correctly for them. Don't assume they know how the whole piece is supposed to sound, show them by playing a recording of it.

When a student was struggling to play a part, I would often stand by him and play the part with him. Hearing me play it correctly motivated the student to try harder to play it correctly.