Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • December 2013
4
From the Board
The purpose of the
Texas Bandmasters
Association, Inc. is to:
Continually assist its
membership in achieving
the highest standards
of instrumental
music education.
u u u
Promote the place and
value of music education
in our society and the
important role instrumental
music plays in our cultural,
intellectual, and social lives.
u u u
Foster goodwill,
fellowship and a collegial,
fraternal spirit
among its members.
u u u
Provide its membership
with an annual Convention/
Clinic which introduces new
music, tried and proven
teaching methods and
materials
as well as instruments
and equipment.
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Provide Educational
Publications of instructional
methods and materials
for TBA members and
aid them with their
personal development
and leadership.
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Provide information for the
university music student
preparing to become
a band director.
Mission
Statement
grade as a band director. One day I might
be a B+ teacher and another day a C-. Did
my kids learn today and if so, did they
enjoy learning or was I a less than friendly
person? Did I guide them to the right
answer or did I just give them the answer?
Allow me to share an experience I had
the other day. I was sight-reading some
short melodies with the Duncanville
Wind Ensemble. We had been talking
about major and minor tonalities and
how to tell if a piece is in major or minor
BEFORE playing. After I gave them a few
hints and suggestions, they proceeded to
correctly answer whether a piece was in
major or minor before we read the music.
(Yes, they had to answer by a show of
hands with their eyes closed). I went
home that day thinking that I was at least
a B+ teacher.
No matter what grade of a teacher
you were today, know that we will not
always be an “A+” teacher and that we
always have room to grow as people
and as professional educators. I would
encourage younger band directors to soak
up as much as you can from older, more
experienced directors. I have been very
fortunate to have learned from some
of the best in our profession. Like an
Academy Award acceptance speech, it
would be silly for me to think that I
could name them all without leaving so
many out. I hope you know who you are!
When I find myself saying something to
my band students that was fairly clever
or insightful, I often wonder from whom
I got that idea.
Over the second half of my 30-year
band director career, I have had the
opportunity and pleasure to travel around
the United States, Canada, Australia and
China—presenting clinics and working
with various programs and band directors.
I am always proud to tell them that I am
a band director who teaches in Texas. We
are very fortunate to have such strong
leaders in our profession and professional
organizations such as UIL, TMEA and
TBA to help us maintain our excellence
and to help us set the bar higher each
year.
As we celebrate this holiday season, I
know that we all have a lot to be thankful
for. Thank you for allowing me to serve
as your TBA Treasurer. I hope to see
you at our 2014 TBA Convention/Clinic.
President Richard Herrera and the TBA
Board are putting together an exceptional
convention where we can all learn to be
an A+ band director.