The Seven Deadly Sins of Music Making

Practical Prescriptions for Common Ensemble Pitfalls

In The Seven Deadly Sins of Music Making, celebrated conductor and educator Richard Floyd identifies seven pervasive musical bad habits that consistently hold back student ensembles from achieving professional-level tone, expression, and artistry. Combining humorous anecdotes with highly practical rehearsal fixes, the book is a masterclass in ensemble refinement.

The Seven Pitfalls Identified

1. Incorrect Tempo and Rushing: Analyzing why student musicians struggle to hold a steady pulse and providing physical exercises to stabilize rhythm.
2. Ignoring Dynamics and Dynamic Ranges: Practical strategies for expanding the ensemble’s volume spectrum and ensuring true contrast.
3. Poor Tone Quality and Lack of Air Support: Emphasizing tone as the absolute foundation of all music and explaining how to cultivate correct embouchure and breath support.
4. Poor Intonation and Faulty Listening: Introducing methods to help students listen across the ensemble, match pitches, and calibrate their instruments on the fly.
5. Inarticulate Articulation: Troubleshooting heavy tongues, sloppy attacks, and unequal note lengths across different instrument sections.
6. Lack of Phrasing and Shape: Teaching students to identify structural peaks and breathe life into musical phrases rather than treating notes as isolated blocks.
7. Poor Rehearsal Concentration and Attitude: Strategies for building a focused, highly collaborative classroom environment where students take pride in musical precision.