Page 7 - 2017-BMR-September

From the Board

George Little, 2017-18 TBA Sergeant-at-Arms

Greetings from East Texas! I am thrilled to be a part 1A school, where I was marching
of the Board of Directors for the Texas Bandmasters on Friday nights as a part of the
Association and I am looking forward to serving the band high school band as a second
directors of this great state. year player. After graduating from
Transitioning from the relative calm of the summer SFA, I spent six years teaching
months back into the rigors of summer band and starting at class CC Henderson Middle
school has always been a challenge for me. Gearing up to School where we started at least
give students my best is easier some years than others. One 180 beginners every year. Then I taught at 2A New Diana
thing that always helps me to get off on the right foot for for 8 years where we had 150 students total in our band
a school year is going to the TBA convention. Attending program grades 6-12. My journey brought me to 6A Lufkin
clinics, visiting with exhibitors, and spending time with just over one year ago, and I am reminded once again that
colleagues always teaches me something new. Whether you good is good, no matter where you are.
have never been, go every year, or have taken a few years While each of our band programs enjoy varying amounts
off, I would like to encourage everyone to make time to of resources, vastly different socioeconomic makeup, and
attend next year’s TBA convention. contrasting levels of support, our calling is to always strive
One of the unique parts of my band heritage comes to find a way to give our students their best chance at
from the fact that I have been blessed to be a part of succeeding. No matter where you teach, focusing on
good band programs, both as a student and as a teacher, doing things as well as they can be done, while whole
in geographically and economically diverse areas. My heartedly serving students, is the key to success.
beginning band year was in Lewisville ISD at Delay Middle I hope that all of you are off to a great start with your
School where Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt was my band director school year and I wish you the best with your performances
and I had a private trombone lesson every week. Between this fall.
6th and 7th grade, my family moved to Overton, a small

2017-18 TBA Board of Directors, left to right:
George Little, Daniel Allen, Roland Sandoval, Phillip Clements, John Morrison, Chico Portillo, Jeff King, Michael Brashear
Bandmasters Review • September 2017 5 Texas Bandmasters Association