Professional Development

When a saxophone section "clicks," it's an awesome musical moment. These musicians are technically proficient, well-balanced, in tune and great communicators across the ensemble. 

Daniel Berard is the assistant director of bands at Wakeland High School in Frisco, Texas. Prior to this, he served as the director of bands at Grain Valley High School in Missouri and Fossil Ridge High School in Colorado.

Marcia Neel is senior director of education for Yamaha Corporation of America. She is president of Music Education Consultants Inc., and serves as the education advisor to the Music Achievement Council. 

As part of her True North approach to in­structing, Dr. Emily Threinen sees oppor­tunities to abandon the stick. 

December is hectic for Jason Robb, director of bands at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas. He runs two high school holiday concerts, six middle school con­certs and a pancake dinner fundraiser for his booster organization.

When working with Paige's Music in Indianapolis, Indiana, local band directors give the game "red light, green light" a new twist. 

Douglas Droste is director of orchestras and associate professor of music at Ball State University in Indiana.

Rather than relying on external motivation, successful teachers inspire students to fuel their own flame to attain a higher level of mastery. 

As a female director of bands and associate professor of music at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Emily Threinen is aware of the importance of gender equality in music.

Gary Lewis is the director of Orchestral Studies and the Bob and Judy Charles Professor of Conducting in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder.