Lee B. Gibson, the Assistant Director of Bands at Barberton City Schools in Ohio, knows how music education can transform lives. Something as basic as putting instruments in the hands of students can seem to be an insurmountable obstacle. Luckily, Gibson’s music program provides high-quality instruments to every student who signs up for band at no charge to them. The Barberton Band Boosters have purchased instruments throughout the years, and the district covers the cost of repairs.

Gibson himself secured a grant to purchase trumpets and to bring guest trumpet clinicians to a beginning band class he started. “We have a full range of instruments for students from beginning up to professional quality instruments for our upper-level kids at the high school,” he says.

Gibson goes above and beyond for his students, which include 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade bands as well as the high school marching band and pep band. He also oversees several small ensembles — saxophone quartets, clarinet quintets, brass quintets, etc. “Woodwinds and brass instruments produce beautiful and unique sounds, and more people should be exposed to them,” Gibson explains.

He also created TheBandRoom YouTube channel to provide interesting and exciting ways for his winds students to practice materials that otherwise are monotonous and boring. Videos cover a range of topics including rhythm, breathing, lip slurs, tone development, articulation and scales.

After attending several Piccolo Christmas events started by Lynn Stukart Ogden in Iowa, Gibson started an Akron version. Flute players come together and play Christmas music on a one-day practice and performance basis. “It involves all types of flutes from piccolo to concert flutes, alto flues, bass flutes and contrabass flutes,” Gibson proudly says. “There are over 100 musicians who participate every year. It offers a way for professionals to network in a fun way, and it also gives local students the opportunity to see, hear and play with our area’s top musicians.”