Midwest Clinic: Broadening Music Education Beyond Traditional Ensembles - Episode Hero Image

Midwest Clinic: Broadening Music Education Beyond Traditional Ensembles

That Band Life · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title: #78 Midwest Preview 2025 and Dinner Invite

TL;DR

  • Midwest Clinic sessions offer strategies for engaging students beyond compliance, fostering leadership, and improving instrument-specific pedagogy, enabling educators to build more effective and fulfilling band programs.
  • The Bands of America Summer Camp's revitalized jazz track provides students with intensive instruction from renowned faculty, fostering advanced musical skills and a deeper understanding of jazz theory and improvisation.
  • Integrating music industry career pathways beyond performance into educational programs equips students with diverse opportunities in fields like production, event management, and manufacturing, broadening their professional horizons.
  • Developing lead trumpet players requires a focus on range, endurance, concept, and phrasing, with specialized clinics offering actionable steps for educators to cultivate these critical skills in students.
  • The podcast highlights the importance of diverse musical expressions, advocating for the inclusion of electronic music groups and mariachi ensembles to ensure music education is accessible to all students.
  • Educators can enhance rehearsal efficiency by utilizing companion guides and specialized pedagogy for instruments like drum set, maximizing student learning and addressing common teaching challenges.
  • Attending Midwest Clinic provides educators with inspiration, literature ideas, and diverse perspectives, serving as a vital opportunity to recharge and recalibrate their teaching approaches for the new year.

Deep Dive

The Midwest Clinic offers music educators a critical opportunity to refresh pedagogical approaches and discover new resources, extending beyond traditional band and orchestra formats to embrace diverse musical expressions like jazz and electronic music. This broadening of scope is essential for fostering broader student engagement and ensuring music education remains relevant and accessible to all.

The clinic's programming highlights the importance of practical, actionable strategies for educators, from developing advanced musicianship in lead trumpet players to integrating technology in the classroom and managing stress. Sessions on jazz pedagogy, such as the return of the jazz track at the Bands of America Summer Camp, emphasize the need for specialized instruction and top-tier faculty. This focus on jazz, alongside clinics on electronic music and mariachi, signals a systemic shift towards recognizing and supporting a wider array of musical traditions within educational settings. The emphasis on developing transferable skills, like those taught in sessions on music industry careers beyond performance, addresses a long-standing gap in music education, preparing students for a broader spectrum of professional opportunities. Furthermore, the clinic's structure, with its frequent schedule overlaps, forces educators to make deliberate choices, encouraging a more strategic approach to professional development and prioritizing sessions that offer the most impactful insights for their specific teaching contexts. The annual "That Band Life Dinner Meetup" exemplifies the event's role in fostering community and connection, allowing educators to share perspectives and recharge their passion for music education.

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Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"Bobby is sick so in this episode Jeff's co-host is Dennis Crystal, Director of Bands at Newbury Park High School in Thousand Oaks, California. They talk about sessions that look exciting at Midwest this year and Jazz at the Bands of America Summer Camp."

This quote introduces the guest co-host, Dennis Crystal, and sets the stage for the podcast episode's primary topics: the Midwest Clinic and the Bands of America Summer Camp, specifically its jazz track. It establishes the context for the discussion that follows.

"We’re excited to be at the Midwest Clinic next week, and we want to share the experience with you! We’re inviting a few listeners to join us for a special dinner in Chicago. If you’d like to be considered for the That Band Life Dinner Meetup, just email jeff@dynamicmarching.com. We will choose some listeners to join us at dinner. We’d love to hang out and connect with you in person!"

This quote highlights a special invitation to listeners to attend a dinner meetup with the podcast hosts during the Midwest Clinic. It provides a clear call to action for interested listeners, emphasizing the desire for in-person connection.

"so today we're going to talk about midwest and i thought it'd be a good time to bring dennis on because he's going to midwest and actually he's a jazz musician a really big music educator in the jazz space and um really excited this summer you want to tell people what you're going to be doing this summer"

Jeff Young explains the rationale for inviting Dennis Crystal to co-host, specifically mentioning Crystal's expertise in jazz education and his upcoming involvement with the Bands of America Summer Camp. This quote signals the transition to discussing the camp's jazz program.

"and i'll be coordinating the jazz track which we are bringing back for the first time in quite a few years i guess right yeah since pre pandemic yeah we're really excited we hope we have two or three big bands and um you know if we have more that's even better right oh yeah yeah lots of room for lots of kids and some just unbelievable faculty this summer so it's going to be a tremendous week with lots of music making and uh learning about theory and learning how to talk through your instruments it's going to be great"

Dennis Crystal elaborates on his role coordinating the jazz track at the Bands of America Summer Camp, noting its return after a hiatus. Crystal expresses excitement about the program's potential, the caliber of faculty, and the comprehensive learning experience offered to students.

"but this year i've kind of like got my list oriented a little bit towards culture building leadership some instrument specific pedagogy there's a double reed clinic later on that we can talk about but that first session at 10 30 beyond compliance igniting engagement in the band room seemed very interesting to me and so being a former veteran a military member i'm pretty good at getting compliance but i want to continue to develop the softer side of my personality a little bit so hopefully"

Jeff Young shares his personal focus for the Midwest Clinic sessions, prioritizing culture building and leadership. Young highlights a specific session, "Beyond Compliance: Igniting Engagement in the Band Room," as particularly interesting to him, indicating a desire to enhance his approach to student engagement.

"and so all of these there's lots of sessions day one type sessions sprinkled out throughout the schedule and so this day one step for success with your beginning jazz band is actually two parter so with some really really top notch educators so if you were in that vein for trying to get your jazz pedagogy chops up a little bit that's a great place to start"

Dennis Crystal points out the availability of "day one" type sessions at the Midwest Clinic, specifically recommending the two-part series on developing beginning jazz bands. Crystal suggests these sessions are valuable for educators looking to improve their jazz pedagogy skills, especially those new to teaching jazz.

"and then the uh programming interpretation and performance and leadership and then like fred bateese so there's richard floyd like just getting deep back into that camp faculty he's amazing jerry junkin 11 30 come on yep ut austin he's a legend that'll be cool dr tim hosting that conversation"

Jeff Young lists several notable clinicians and faculty members presenting at the Midwest Clinic, including Fred Bates, Richard Floyd, and Jerry Junkin. Young emphasizes Junkin's legendary status and mentions Dr. Tim hosting a conversation with him, indicating the high caliber of speakers.

"and then the uh instrument manufacturers and stuff like that and so we were just talking the other day like man i love playing but i know that's not what i want to do and like trying to sort it out so i wish he were going with me i would send him to that clinic and put him in touch that's a great a lot of friends work at yamaha and it's a great career you know they provide for their families really well and still doing what you love and still connected to the business it's great"

Dennis Crystal discusses the growing importance of music industry careers beyond performance and teaching. Crystal shares a personal anecdote about his son's interest in music industry studies, highlighting the diverse opportunities available in areas like production, event management, and instrument manufacturing.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "Tim Warfield's Jazzy Christmas" by Tim Warfield - Mentioned as a collection of jazz music.

Articles & Papers

  • "Nostalgia" (SoundCloud) - Mentioned as intro music for the podcast.

People

  • Dennis Crystal - Director of Bands at Newbury Park High School, guest co-host.
  • Bobby Lambert - Original co-host of "That Band Life" podcast.
  • Jeff Young - Director of Camps for Music for All, host of "That Band Life" podcast.
  • Bethany Robinson - Jazz educator at Purdue University, former band director at Noblesville High School, bassist.
  • Adam Schroder - Baritone saxophonist, faculty at UNLV, session player in Los Angeles.
  • Jen Krupa - Trombonist, retired from U.S. Navy Commodores Jazz Ensemble, teaches at Juilliard.
  • Bijon Watson - Trumpet player, Grammy winner, clinician.
  • Tim Lautzenheiser - Mentioned for having a clinic with the Monon Frogs and Stax Ensemble.
  • Ronnie Rios - Leader of a jazz orchestra, met at Texas Bandmasters.
  • Alfred Watkins - Camp faculty, described as an icon in music education.
  • Beth Fabrizio - Woodwind player, clinician, associated with Homestead High School Jazz Band.
  • Tim Cox - Initiated a jazz education advocacy subcommittee.
  • Andy Cook - Mentioned in relation to hip surgery and leading a jazz band.
  • Chris Griffith - Band director at Clay Middle School, Carmel, presenter of a clinic on harmonizing stress.
  • Mike Pote - Presenter of a Yamaha Harmony Director session.
  • Omar Thomas - Mentioned for a chat session.
  • Richard Floyd - Mentioned as camp faculty.
  • Jerry Junkin - Associated with UT Austin, described as a legend.
  • John Fannon - Friend of the speaker, involved in Fannon Productions.
  • Scott Coder - Involved in Fannon Productions, known for programming.
  • Tiffany Hicks - Middle school conductor at camp, presenter of a clinic on supercharger rehearsals.
  • Corey Graves - Mentioned as a clinician for a middle school clinic.
  • Cyrus Chestnut - Musician performing at the Jazz Showcase.
  • Tim Wharton - Musician performing at the Jazz Showcase, author of "Tim Warfield's Jazzy Christmas".
  • Terrell Stafford - Musician performing at the Jazz Showcase.
  • Clarence Penn - Musician performing at the Jazz Showcase.
  • Warren Wolf - Musician performing at the Jazz Showcase.
  • Joanna Hershey - Yamaha artist, teacher, presenter of a clinic on recruiting female low brass players.
  • Ray Cramer - Former band director at Indiana University.
  • Mallory Thompson - Conducting the North Shore Concert Band.
  • Will Kuhn - Teaches music production boot camp at camp, presenter on postmodern band directing.
  • Dr. Weaver - Mentioned in relation to a previous podcast episode.
  • Manny Flores - Leading a percussion ensemble from Trinity High School.
  • Bob Morrison - On the board of directors for Music for All.
  • Dr. Tim - Hosting a conversation with Ray Cramer.
  • Steve Fiddick - Drummer, teacher at Temple University, presenter of a clinic on big band drumming.
  • Jennifer Witt - Clinician, associated with Sweetwater, presenter on music industry careers.
  • Brittany Morey - Friend of the speaker, presenter on woodwind pedagogy.
  • Caroline Hand - Former faculty at Ball State University, clinician.
  • Eric - From Baylor, clinician.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Newbury Park High School - Location where Dennis Crystal teaches.
  • Music for All - Organization associated with Jeff Young and Bob Morrison.
  • Bands of America Summer Camp - Event where Jazz at the Bands of America Summer Camp is discussed.
  • Ball State University - Location where a summer camp is being held.
  • Purdue University - Where Bethany Robinson teaches jazz.
  • UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) - Where Adam Schroder is on faculty for jazz studies.
  • United States Navy Commodores Jazz Ensemble - Where Jen Krupa retired from.
  • Juilliard - Where Jen Krupa teaches.
  • The Jazz Kitchen - Location in Broad Ripple where Bethany Robinson was gigging.
  • United States Army - Mentioned in relation to Jen Krupa's service.
  • United States Army Blues - Where Steve Fiddick was formerly with.
  • US Army Pershing's Own - Performing concerts.
  • Music for All - Organization supporting the summer camp and director academy.
  • Clay Middle School - Where Chris Griffith is a band director.
  • UT Austin - Associated with Jerry Junkin.
  • Fannon Productions - Involved in a discussion about marching band shows.
  • Trinity High School - Where Manny Flores has a percussion ensemble.
  • Vista Ridge High School - Mentioned for their wind ensemble.
  • Indiana University - Where Ray Cramer was a band director.
  • The Beresford Arms - Mentioned in relation to a previous podcast episode.
  • The Beresford Arms - Mentioned in relation to a previous podcast episode.
  • The Beresford Arms - Mentioned in relation to a previous podcast episode.
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