“Playing music is supposed to be fun. It’s about heart, it’s about feelings, moving people, and something beautiful, and it’s not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can’t teach you that other stuff.” -Glenn Holland (“Mr. Holland’s Opus”)
Though the above quote is given by a fictional character, the sentiment is very real. We don’t just teach music, we encourage incredible young people how to express and embrace humanity through music. What a gig!
Last Spring, a beginning band student asked me how long I have been playing trumpet. I jokingly said, “Three times longer than you’ve been alive!”. We both laughed, but it slowly dawned on me – that was almost true! Where had the time gone? That led me to reflect on some of my experiences and teachers that led me to that point: listening to the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Summer Band play as my 5-year-old self watched intently from a picnic blanket on the lawn, helping my band-director aunt sort music on her band room floor when I was eight years old, first picking up the trumpet in Mr. Jonas’s 6th grade band class, honing my craft through lessons with incredible teachers including Mr. Bill Pfund, playing and learning under the guidance of Drs. Kenneth Singleton and Richard Mayne at UNC for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, guest conducting a select high school festival band and Colorado Mesa University, and growing alongside incredible colleagues in the profession as a Band Director myself.Â
Over the last 16 years as a middle & high school band director in Colorado, I had the awesome privilege of leading a small-but-mighty rural program (Wray MS/HS in Wray, CO), a large & highly competitive program (Liberty High School in Colorado Springs, CO), and a medium-sized powerhouse (Palmer Ridge High School in Monument, CO). Under my direction across those programs, marching bands were annual State finalists and both concert and jazz programs received consistent “Superior” & “Superior with Distinction” ratings at contests & State festivals.Â
But as notable as those achievements are, they pale in comparison to seeing and hearing students grow in their musicianship and build relationships with each other that will last a lifetime. Who wouldn’t want to experience that joy in their program? I hope you do…and have. And if you have not yet started your teaching career, you’re in for a wild ride! Here’s the great news: you’ll be welcomed by an amazing network of musicians and educators – locally, nationally, and around the world.Â
Being involved in professional organizations helped me stay connected with my colleagues through the Colorado Bandmasters Association, Colorado Music Educators Association, NAfME, Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary), Phi Beta Mu, and the American School Band Directors Association. It’s through these networks that I’ve gained not only valuable knowledge and insights into teaching, but amazing friendships and a support system I wouldn’t trade for anything. Â
As teachers, we often put our main focus on all of the different strategies we can use to help our students build relationships with each other and thereby strengthen our ensembles. But all too often, we get caught up in the busyness of life as a Band/Orchestra/Choir/Theater Director and neglect to take the time to foster relationships within our very own “ensemble” – our colleagues. Building relationships and finding resources is so invaluable to what we do!
THAT’S WHERE SBO+ COMES IN….
SBO+ is more than a publication – it’s a NETWORK! One that connects music educators with not only each other, but with colleges and universities, databases, job postings, music publishers, instrument vendors, and equipment manufacturers. When all of these join forces, what a valuable asset at our disposal that we can use to benefit our students. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about?
I’m very excited to be joining the SBO+ team as Advertising Sales & Music Education Liaison! In this role, I’ll have the opportunity to play a part in connecting YOU, the Music Educator, the “boots on the ground”, with a myriad of resources in a way relevant to you directly in the classroom and behind-the-scenes with program administration. Teachers understand teachers and I hope my experiences up to this point will allow me to be a positive resource for you. I wish you an amazing 2026-2027 school year ahead and “stay tuned” for exciting resources from SBO+!
