2022 Band Director Workshop

A tradition of excellence for more than 75 years!

Organization Contests/Festivals All-Illinois Junior Band

The Illinois Grade School Music Association, Northern Division, is dedicated to encourage, aid, and advance music education in the elementary, middle and junior high schools of the State of Illinois. IGSMA sponsors contests among school bands, orchestras, and choruses, including solos and ensembles. The year culminates with a final organization contest/festival.

Why Become a Member?

Adult professionals, dedicated to providing valuable and meaningful feedback for both students and directors, serve as adjudicators. IGSMA, Northern Division, is divided into nine districts making contest site locations convenient.

Participation in IGSMA supports statewide advocacy for music education at the elementary and middle school levels.

“Out of all of the activities I do with my students throughout the school year, without a doubt the most beneficial are IGSMA Solo/Ensemble Contest and Organization Contest. The students always seem a bit more “professional” after their first time being at Organization Contest - I definitely notice a change in their demeanor and attitudes. I heartily recommend all directors to join this fine organization!”

“Participating in the IGSMA Organization Contest has brought my choral program to a level of excellence that I could not have done alone. This tradition gives my students an amazing sense of accomplishment and an annual goal that we work together to achieve.”

“I have been sending students to the Illinois Grade School Music Association Organization Band Contest for almost 20 years and have found it to be an incredible place for students to achieve both individual and ensemble performance goals. IGSMA encourages a high level of musical and personal growth for each student who participates and is an integral part of our instrumental music program.”

Lisa

Terrence Melbourn

Secretary-Treasurer tmelbourn@igsma.org

Justin Bangert, District

Linda Betzelberger, District

Rebecca Meadows, District

Lisa Eaton, District 4 igsmadist4@gmail.com

Calesia House, District 5 chouse@molineschools.org

Jennifer Carlton & William Goetz, District 6 igsma6@gmail.com

Kimberly Farris, District 7 igsmadistrict7@gmail.com

Allison Reatherford, District 8 areatherford@gmail.com

Deb Shofner, District 9 igsmad9@gmail.com

tmelbourn@igsma.org

- Carrie Provost, Orchestra Director, Franklin MS

- Elena Ryan, Choral Director, Attea MS

- Kimberly Farris

I love telling the story of how this workshop got started. Several years ago we received an unusually large number (nearly ten) of observation requests from area band directors to visit on the same day. Unfortunately, we also had a teacher inservice scheduled for that day, but it had me joking to myself that I should start my own conference. Long story short, today marks our ninth National Band Association/Illinois Grade School Music Association Band Director Workshop!

We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Illinois Grade School Music Association and the National Band Association. They’ve each provided generous financial support and publicity that has allowed us to bring in such a distinguished panel of clinicians. Both of these organizations have been essential to my program and my professional development. They have been with this workshop since it’s beginning, and I could not be more appreciative of their continued sponsorship of this day. A big thank you to Skokie School District 73.5 and Zipporah Hightower, superintendent, for allowing us to host the workshop here again this year.

Special thanks to my colleagues Cesar Mendoza and Amy Keipert for the enormous amount of work they put in to making this day run smoothly…and to Shan Kazmi for allowing me to constantly bounce workshop ideas off of him. Lastly, of course, a sincere appreciation to you! There is a wonderful energy and excitement when members of our profession come together. It is inspiring to share space with dozens of like minded colleagues gathered for the purposes of helping their students get better. It’s fun, and invigorating, and has become one of the things I look forward to most each year.

The most basic premise of my philosophy on being a band director (and teaching in general for that matter) is that students are a reflection of their teacher. I believe that to be true in both in the “micro” level of our rehearsals and “macro” level of the culture of our program created by how we present ourselves as professionals. To that end, I believe it vitally important to be a part of our national and state professional organizations. I have been an active member of both the National Band Association and the Illinois Grade School Music Association for my entire career and I directly credit my involvement in both for my professional, and program’s, successes throughout the years. Both the NBA and IGSMA have representatives here today. Please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself, learn more about these two meaningful organizations, and grab membership materials.

Thank you for being here. Here's to a wonderful day of professional development!

Chip De Stefano

Director of Bands, McCracken Middle School

Board of Directors - Middle School Representative, National Band Association

CLINICIAN BIOGRAPHIES

Rodney Dorsey is professor of music in bands and chair of the Department of Bands at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a position he has held since fall 2018.

He is the conductor of the internationally recognized Indiana Wind Ensemble and guides all aspects of the graduate wind-conducting program.

Dorsey’s positions have included director of bands at the University of Oregon, associate director of Bands at the University of Michigan, associate professor of music at DePaul University, and director of Athletic Bands at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He also taught public school for eight years in Florida and Georgia.

Ensembles under Dorsey’s direction have performed at state and national events including the College Band Directors National Conference North/Northwest Regional Conference and the Music for All National Festival. He is an active guest conductor, having led intercollegiate, allstate, and regional honors bands around the country. International engagements include Hungary, Canada, and Bulgaria.

An active advocate for the composition of new wind repertoire, Dorsey has been involved in a number of commissioning projects, including with composers Andrea Reinkemeyer, Steven Mackey, D. J. Sparr, Anthony Bar field, Stacy Garrop, Andrew Rindfleisch, and John Mackey.

Dorsey has presented clinic sessions at national and state conferences, including the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and the Midwest Clinic. He has also presented at numerous state music conferences around the country.

Dorsey’s professional memberships include the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma (honorary), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.

His commitment to the music community has been demonstrated by his participation on boards of directors for the Midwest Clinic and Music for All. He is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. His lifelong commitment to teaching saw him recognized as a Yamaha Master Educator.

A native of Gainesville, Florida, Dorsey is a graduate of Florida State University and Northwestern University in Evanston. He studied conducting with James Croft, John Paynter, and Mallory Thompson, and clarinet with Fred Ormand and Frank Kowalsky.

RODNEY DORSEY

Patrick Sheridan is one of the most celebrated tuba soloists in his instrument's history. He has performed more than 3,000 concerts in over 50 countries in venues ranging from the White House to NBA half-time shows to the Hollywood Bowl. He is a former member of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band and has been featured on NBC's "Today Show" and NPR's "All Things Considered." Beyond his busy performing life, Patrick's commitment to education is extensive. His wind students occupy positions in major international ensembles. Mr. Sheridan has served on the music faculties at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, The Rotterdam Conservatory, The Royal Northern College of Music and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He most recently served on the music faculty at UCLA where he conducted the Brass Ensemble and Wind Ensemble and taught tuba/euphonium. Along with Sam Pilafian, he is the co-author of the world's best-selling method for instrumental improvement, The Breathing Gym, which won the 2009 EMMY Award for Instructional/Informational Video Production. He is the Chief Design Consultant for Jupiter Band Instruments and XO Brass. Patrick also frequently works across the United States as a guest conductor with university bands and orchestras as well as high school and middle school all-state and regional honor bands and orchestras most recently serving as the Nebraska All-State Band Conductor. Patrick is a member of ASCAP, an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, and a Trustee of The International Music Camp.

Melissa Gustafson-Hinds is in her fourteenth year as Director of Bands O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Illinois. In addition to her teaching duties at O’Fallon Township High School, Dr. Gustafson-Hinds serves as Music Department Chair at OTHS and most recently served as the District VI Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) President.

In her time at OTHS, she has brought the band program to new heights in music excellence. Under her direction, the OTHS Marching Panthers have been consistent Bands of America (BOA) Regional and Super Regional finalists, Grand National Semi-Finalists, and a Grand National Finalist in 2018. In 2015, the band marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California (and an upcoming appearance now in 2022) and in 2018 the band marched in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California. The concert ensembles performed at Carnegie Hall in May 2014, and the Wind Ensemble has performed at the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, the National Concert Band Festival, and the ILMEA State Convention. For a week in February 2015, the OTHS Band Program hosted David Maslanka at and received intensive clinics from him, ending the week with a concert held in his honor. Other distinguished clinicians the band has worked with include James Keene, Steve Steele, Dick Floyd, Mallory Thompson, Kevin Sedatole, Mike Fansler, and Steve Davis. O’Fallon Township has been honored with the NBA Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award and two Music For All Advocacy Awards.

Melissa Gustafson-Hinds is originally from Monmouth, Illinois. She attended Illinois State University, earning a bachelor’s in music education, graduating with University Honors. Melissa earned her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign in 2000, an educational leadership endorsement from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and her Doctorate Degree in Teaching and Learning, with an emphasis in music, from the University of Missouri St. Louis in 2010.

Melissa is married to Evan Hinds, who is a music arranger, drill writer, and music adjudicator and additionally, serves as the Music Director for the Marching Panthers. Together they have a daughter named Evelyn who is 5 years old.

WALKING DISTANCE

Subway 4025 W Oakton St Skokie, IL

SHORT DRIVE

Dengeos 3301 W. Main St. Skokie, IL

Pita Inn 4710 Dempster St Skokie, IL

LONGER

Chipotle 9408 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL

Herm's Palace 3406 Dempster St Skokie, IL

Brown's Chicken 3949 Oakton St. Skokie, IL

9319 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL

Portillo's 9400 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL

Poochie's 3602 Dempster St Skokie, IL

Taco Bell 8329 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL

9455 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL

Jimmy John's 9402 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL

Noodles & Co. 4999 Old Orchard Skokie, IL

Panera Bread 9611 Skokie Blvd Skokie IL

CHORALES AND BEYOND

NEW!

FLEXIBLE INSTRUMENTATION

All chorales are written in four-part harmony with all parts appearing in each book for ultimate flexibility. Includes engaging parts for mallet, battery, and accessory percussion.

DAILY ROUTINES

Daily routines cover breathing, long tones, pitch matching, intervals, scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and chorales.

EASY TO ADVANCED CHORALES IN TEN KEYS

Each unit includes a daily routine and three chorale cycles that can be used to provide constant variety and freshness.

BACH HARMONIZATIONS

Chorales by Lowell Mason, Thomas Tallis, Ralph Vaughan Williams and a dozen other composers, with each cycle culminating in a Bach chorale.

PERSONAL WARM-UPS, SCALES, MUSICAL TERMS

Basic and advanced warm-ups are instrument specific to meet the unique needs of each woodwind, brass, and percussion student.

About the Authors

Timothy Loest is a name in music synonymous with creativity, versatility, and accessibility. His compositions and arrangements are performed worldwide and his pedagogical methods and conducting appearances continue to impact performers and audiences at the state and national levels. With over 30 years teaching experience, Tim is familiar with the interests and pedagogical needs of today’s student.

Chip De Stefano is active nationally as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. His bands at McCracken Middle School in Skokie, Illinois have performed at the Midwest Clinic and several state and regional conferences and festivals. The McCracken MS Band program was awarded the prestigious Sudler Silver Cup from the Sousa Foundation in 2007 and the National Band Association’s Programs of Excellence Award in 2015.

Kevin Lepper is an internationally known percussionist/educator. His musical career has embraced a wide range of experiences, including El Paso Symphony, Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and commercial recordings. As a Yamaha Performing Artist, and Professor Emeritus at VanderCook College of Music, he has presented and performed at The Midwest Clinic, The Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and many state conferences.

Timothy Loest and Chip De Stefano with percussion by Kevin Lepper

Teaching Rhythm Logically is a instructional method for teachers. By modeling a logical, sequential way to teach rhythm, each concept is addressed from multiple angles to reach all of your students, regardless how they learn. The lessons are designed to create an UNDERSTANDING of rhythm, not just getting your kids to count out loud. Best of all, the text provides full scripts for your classes.

www.teachingrhythmlogically.com

Inappropriate pacing and expectations in beginner band classes impair our students’ growth and stifle their love of music. Whether you teach instrument-specific classes or everyone all at once, Pacing for Success provides an outline of successful beginner structure that can be tweaked to fit your program’s configuration.

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