What was your background before ABC?
I student taught in the position I am currently in and had been in that position for 4 years before I started at ABC. I was born and raised in the town I went to college in (Grand Junction, CO) and attended my undergrad at Colorado Mesa University (then Mesa State College).
Year of Graduation – 2013
Current Position – I am currently the Director of Bands at Fruita Monument High School. We are a 10-12 school have 3 concert bands, 2 jazz bands, marching band and AP Music Theory
Time in Current Position – I am in my 12 year
Name some accomplishments or awards since graduation
- 2011 Phi Beta Mu Colorado Chapter Outstanding Young Bandmaster
- Member of ASBDA since 2011
- Member of PBM since 2012
- Member of CMEA since 2003
- The band was selected to play at Colorado Music Educators Clinic/Conference in 2014
- Semifinalist for a GRAMMY in Music Education in 2014
- Recipient of the “Be Our Guest” Grant to go to the Midwest Clinic in 2017 from Be a Part of the Music and World Projects
- President-Elect of the Colorado Bandmasters Association
How did ABC help you prepare for these?
Everything that The American Band College did was practical and has a daily influence on my instruction. From building and maintaining the program, dealing with administrators, to individual instrument pedagogy. Each class, each session, each rehearsal is a piece of the puzzle that I took back home to my own program and put into place to help build what is going on at Fruita Monument. Being able to sit in the rehearsals with the greats rehearsing, you just absorb their energy and take that with you. It’s impossible to point to specific instances, but rather the entire experience influenced who I am and changed the direction of my program.
What was your most memorable experience at ABC?
Everything that The American Band College did was practical and has a daily influence on my instruction. From building and maintaining the program, dealing with administrators, to individual instrument pedagogy. Each class, each session, each rehearsal is a piece of the puzzle that I took back home to my own program and put into place to help build what is going on at Fruita Monument. Being able to sit in the rehearsals with the greats rehearsing, you just absorb their energy and take that with you. It’s impossible to point to specific instances, but rather the entire experience influenced who I am and changed the direction of my program.
Who are your biggest influences/mentors?
Casey Cropp, Scott Schlup, Ken Ovrebo, W L Whaley, Brett Argo, Jeff Mason, Kathy Joseph, Steve Martin, Clay Stansberry, Paul Traugott, Tim Libby, Calvin Hofer and Dan Bell.
What advice do you have for new directors?
Do not wait to ask for help. There are so many experienced and retired directors out there that are waiting to be asked to come in and work with you or your students. They are not there to judge you or your band, they just want to see you and your students get better. Don’t wait until you think you, or your band is ready to bring someone in to work with your group. Along those lines, if you think you are ‘there’ you have stopped getting better. Always be striving to get better, looking for help, and ways to improve your craft. Find those opportunities to go to clinics and conferences to make yourself better. Lastly, never lose sight of why you do this, it’s about the kids. The kids are the at the center of your experience and their experience should be the driving force of what happens in your program.
