Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • September 2015
5
As I write this article, my final
article, the school year is well
under way. I hope that everyone
is off to an incredible start. As you
begin the journey again (or for
the first time) just remember, it is
a privilege to teach young people
music. So teach everyday from the
heart and to borrow from David
Puckett’s clinic title this summer,
“Teach like your hair is on fire!!”
I can never thank enough those
who played a part in the 2015
TBA Convention/Clinic. I have
said from the beginning that it
is a team effort that presents the
best music education convention
in the world. This year’s Board of
Directors Richard Herrera, Steven
Moore, Jeff King, Chico Portillo,
John Morrison and Phil Clements
are the ultimate professionals who
thoroughly understand the needs
of band directors. Thank you guys
for your help and friendship!
The TBA staff is also an incredible
group. They work tirelessly behind
the scenes to ensure that the
convention
runs
smoothly.
Executive Director Mike Brashear,
Robin Tovar, Justin and Kimberly
Young, Charlie Munsell and Chuck
Kuentz. Thank you all for your
hard work and dedication! Brian
Merrill, TBA Academy Coordinator,
and Frank Troyka, Student Day
Coordinator, have each worked
diligently for several years putting
together these incredible events
with huge success. Thank you so
much Brian and Frank.
The Spouses activities this year
were a tremendous success because
of the hard work of my amazing wife
Alma and Spouse Liaison Priscilla
Brashear. The activities they put
together were a homerun and will
be remembered for years to come.
It was fun watching them plan and
prepare for their important part
of the convention. If your spouse
didn’t go, they really missed out!
I wish I could list everyone who
presented a clinic or brought a
demo group to the convention.
What a tremendous job these
people did pouring their hearts
out to provide information and
material that the clinic participants
could immediately take home
and put into practice. Thank you
for your contributions—not only
to the convention, but to music
education in general.
I would be remiss if I did not
mention the community groups
that performed for us: El Paso
Wind Symphony, Naperville
Municipal Band, The Woodlands
Concert Band, Carrollton Wind
Symphony and the Lone Star
Symphonic Band. All of these
groups sacrificed time, money
and energy to perform wonderful
concerts for the convention. On
a bit of a sidebar here, I truly
feel these groups are simply the
next step for our students as they
progress through their school
years. After graduating college or
trade school, many of our students
still want to play! They have been
trained so well by all of you; it
seems a waste not to push them
to these groups. So the next time
one of your former students tells
you they miss playing, send them
to one of these fine groups. (You
might want to tell them to practice
a bit first!!)
As I close, I want to go back
to my opening statement about
teaching from the heart. Remember
why you started teaching—for
the money, right? No, because
someone early in your life gave of
themself or maybe spent some time
with you. They did this because of
their love of music and teaching.
Take a moment and think about all
the young people you influence as
you teach music every day. Really
think about it as you start that next
fundraiser or climb the steps of that
yellow dog for that next football
game. Are you doing all of it from
the heart? I hope so!
Thanks again for allowing me
to serve as your president. TBA is
in great hands as President Steven
Moore begins his tenure. He has
wonderful plans already in place
for the 2016 Convention/Clinic.
Make your reservations! Have a
great year and God Bless!
Remember: teach like your hair
is on fire!!!!
From the Board
Bruce Beach, 2015 - 16 TBA Past President
