Clinics

Harrison Central School District – 2018-2021

Music Faculty Staff Development

In-person one-on-one coaching, professional development seminars, Zoom coachings during COVID-19

Westchester County Arts Leadership Association – November 5, 2019

Keynote Address – Failure

Association website

Florida Music Educators Association Convention – January 2018

Clinic – Framing Failure with Positive Psychology

Convention website

TEDxOneonta – September 16, 2017

Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta, NY

Conference website

New York State Band Directors Association Winter Symposium

March 4, 2017

Symposium website

Clinic – Social-Emotional Leadership: Engaging your Ensemble with Positive Psychology

Prezi – Handout

Temple University Conducting & Teaching Workshop

July 11-15, 2016

Symposium website

With Dr. Emily Threinen and Kevin Sedatole

Clinics presented:

  • Multiple Identities

  • Framing Failure with Positive Psychology

  • Collective Inspiration Project

Temple University Conducting & Teaching Workshop

July 6-8, 2015

Symposium website

With Dr. Emily Threinen and H. Robert Reynolds

Links to:

NYC DOE Conducting Workshop – January 30, 2015

Links to:

Here is the story I shared at the beginning of the clinic, written by Brendon Lucas, Middle School Band Director in the Mahwah, NJ School District. His insights into what our daily routine are absolutely brilliant! (excerpt shared with permission)

Imagine you have been asked to teach a gym class of 60-70 students all by yourself. Some are 6th graders, some are 7th graders, and some are 8th graders. 10 of them play baseball, 10 play football, 10 play basketball, 10 play lacrosse, 10 play soccer, 10 play hockey, and 10 play badminton. Your goal is to coach all of these students in properly throwing and receiving their respective playing implement, not separately or in small groups, but at the same time.

Some of the soccer and hockey players need to also learn to stop the ball/puck in mid-flight, half the lacrosse and hockey players either don’t have sticks, or need their sticks to be fixed before they are useable, and at least 6 kids have forgotten to bring their ball. The basketball players need to know the proper styles for both a free throw and a pass, and the badminton players need to know how to serve both underhand and overhand. A few of the footballs are underinflated (and the air pump is in a different room), a handful of the soccer balls are not regulation size, and at least two of the badminton rackets are terribly manufactured and ready to fall apart. About 30 percent of the students are very much beginners at their assigned sport, many have been playing for a year or two, and some are already playing better than high school students. There are even handfuls that have private coaching sessions on weekends. And on top of all of this, your gym class is taking place either after school or during lunch/recess, so at least 10 kids either forgot to come, or have to be fetched from another location (keep in mind, you are still by yourself).

Your job is to engage and educate all 70 of these middle school aged pubescent students simultaneously, while expecting them not to throw their ball until they are asked, goof off amongst each other, or demonstrate any improper technique while throwing their ball. The balls are also supposed to be thrown in generally the same direction with similar trajectories, and not hit any other balls while in flight. They students should have enough fun to want to come back again, but also be disciplined, and get enough instruction to succeed at throwing their ball as a whole class. Oh, and your gym only has a 10 foot ceiling.

If you can wrap your mind around this hypothetical gym class, you might have some understanding of what middle school band directors have to handle every time they step in front of an ensemble. Just some food for thought!

Montclair State University – October 15, 2012

Links to:

Northern Valley-Old Tappan – July 25-26, 2012

Handouts

Technology Resources

Montclair State University – April 4, 2012

2011-2012 NVOT Handbook

GKMB Prep List

GKMB Band Camp Plans Monday 8-22-2011.doc

Links to:

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