About Yamaha Staff

The team at Yamaha is dedicated to supporting music educators nationwide.

9 Yamaha “40 Under 40” Educators Eligible to Win 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award

Among the quarterfinalists and legacy finalists for the 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award are nine Yamaha “40 Under 40” music educators from 2021 and 2022.

Teaching Tips

122 Tips for First-Year Music Educators from the 2022 “40 Under 40”

The 2022 “40 Under 40” educators offer 122 tips to new music teachers to help them through their stressful first year.

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Mirian Conti

Mirian Conti is a concert pianist and a faculty member of of the Evening Division of The Juilliard School in New York City. Her passion for helping young pianists across the world inspired her involvement in education, and she integrates new technology including the Disklavier in her teaching. Conti approaches keyboard pedagogy by teaching how […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Frederic Chiu

Frederic Chiu is an Assistant Professor of Piano at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He believes that piano playing embodies the best of humanity and sees the world of keyboard pedagogy through a lens of “Body/Mind/Heart.” Chiu embraces what at first glance may appear to be nontraditional techniques, including cooking and meditation, but these […]

Funding

How School Service Music Stores Can Help Music Teachers Access ESSER Funds

In addition to school and district resources, reach out to your school service music store with questions about getting funding for your music program.

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Andrea McAlister

Andrea McAlister is Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio and embraces the magic of communicating through music and cherishes the opportunity to help students learn to play piano. She engages her students’ curiosity and guides them through the learning process by drawing them into the music and giving them the […]

Teaching Tips

Tips for First-Year Music Teachers from the 2021 “40 Under 40” Educators

The 2021 “40 Under 40” educators offer useful tips to new music teachers to help them through their stressful first year.

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Phillip Keveren

World-renowned composer and pianist Phillip Keveren is the co-author of the “Hal Leonard Student Piano Library.” The fundamental principle behind Keveren’s highly circulated educational piano music is “simple is best.” Striving to understand what students are hoping to feel in each piece, Keveren focuses on the educational experience behind the music he’s writing. To do […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Stan Renard

At The University of Oklahoma, Dr. Stan Renard is Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Arts Management and Entrepreneurship and the Director of the Arts Incubation Research Lab. He is also the Executive Director of the Monteux School and Music Festival. Performer, researcher and multi-lingual presenter, Renard’s international and diverse background come into play in […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Pamela D. Pike

Dr. Pamela D. Pike, Ph.D.. NCTM, is the Herndon Spillman Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Louisiana State University and is a highly respected and upbeat voice in expanding the world of keyboard pedagogy. She stresses the importance of understanding the needs of diverse students in all stages of life. Pike shares her recognizable passion and unique […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Serona Elton

Serona Elton is a professor and director of the Music Industry Program at University of Miami Frost School of Music. She is also the Head of Educational Partnerships at The Mechanical Licensing Collective. A vivacious, captivating presenter, Elton becomes utterly energized when working with young collegiates who view themselves as tomorrow’s music business leaders. Elton is […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Jeffrey Nytch

Dr. Jeffrey Nytch, DMA, is a Professor and Director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Music at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Leading music students to understand the realities of earning a sustainable income through performance is a vital task for music educators. Relatively few orchestral openings exist and applied teaching positions at universities are scarce as […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Donny Gruendler

Donny Gruendler, Ed.D. is the Vice President of Music Education at Guitar Center. A self-proclaimed troublemaker in his own right, Gruendler learned firsthand how impactful music can be when he joined the stage band in 6th grade and was immediately transformed into an exemplary student who would eventually make music his life’s work. Gruendler subscribes […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. David Cutler

Dr. David Cutler is a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Music at the University of South Carolina. He is also the author of “The Savvy Musician” and “The Savvy Music Teacher,” as well as an upcoming visual book, “The GAME of Innovation.” No matter the organization — public or private — […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Omar Thomas

Omar Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Composition at The University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music. He is helping educators rethink the way that they can build non-exclusionary curricula. Feet firmly planted in the multiple worlds of music, Thomas is a leading voice in the belief that genres like classical and jazz […]

Teaching Tips

Virtual Celebration of the First Performance of the School Year

Download the First Performance National Day of Celebration (FPNDOC) Toolkit and start planning your first virtual concert of the school year with your beginning band students.

DEI

The United Sound Method for Private Lesson Teachers

Private lessons teachers can apply United Sound techniques to promote inclusion in their programs by having student leaders act as peer mentors to special needs music students.

Advocacy

Yamaha and 50+ Organizations Unite to Support Arts Education

Yamaha unites with a group of organizations to advocate for the arts.

Teaching Tips

Resources for Online Teaching

Check out this list of resources, free lesson plans and more to help music educators as they tackle and embrace online teaching.

Q & A

Q&A with Yamaha Master Educator Cheryl Floyd

According to Yamaha Master Educator Cheryl Floyd, everyone is inherently musical. Find out why she has devoted her life to music education.

Q & A

Q&A with Yamaha Master Educator Daniel Berard

Learn how Daniel Berard “found his place” in music and how he envisions a world where all students are artistically and creatively literate.

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Michael Pote

Michael Pote, an award-winning band director and highly sought-after speaker, clearly demonstrates that success in a large, high-profile program stems from understanding and utilizing the strengths of everyone involved. He equips students with the musical tools necessary to guarantee achievement at the highest level. Under his leadership, Carmel High School in Indiana has garnered national recognition, […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Marguerite Wilder

The ultimate goal for beginning band students is the development of skills and understanding that enable the student to experience musical artistry. Marguerite Wilder‘s innovative, game-filled approach to teaching fundamentals help set students on a strong path toward success. This technique helps teachers monitor individual progress while providing the students with a comprehensive, rigorous and […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Emily Threinen

Dr. Emily Threinen is director of bands and associate professor of music at University of Minnesota. She consistently works with composers, arrangers and performing artists of varied disciplines. Residencies and projects with composers and new compositions are integral to her creative work. She is an active and in-demand guest conductor, clinician, conference presenter and performer. […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Kevin Sedatole

Dr. Kevin Sedatole is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Michigan State University. He serves as administrator of the entire band program at Michigan State University, totaling over 700 students, which includes the wind symphony, symphony band, concert band, chamber winds, campus bands, Spartan Marching Band and Spartan Brass. Having conducted and taught […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Marcia Neel

Dynamic, energetic, exciting — these are the words used to describe Marcia Neel, one of the most knowledgeable professionals in the field of music education today. This began years ago when she was a secondary music educator whose ensembles were known for consistent quality and attention to artistic detail. She has carried that philosophy and […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Anthony Maiello

With a broad and diverse arsenal of experiences spanning over five decades, Anthony Maiello‘s enthusiasm for teaching music is nothing short of contagious. Having taught instrumental music education from the grade-school level through the university doctoral level, both in the United States and aboard, his experiences give him a unique view and approach to teaching […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Gary Lewis

A multi-faceted artist, Gary Lewis has done it all — from jazz performance and marching band, to musical theater and opera, to arranging for a variety of genres. He has also been involved in entrepreneurial efforts such as establishing a contemporary music festival. With such diverse experiences, Lewis lives his belief that music serves as […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Craig Kirchhoff

Having appeared as a guest conductor throughout the world, Craig Kirchhoff brings a deep understanding of both traditional and contemporary literature to his sessions, including one titled “Score Study: A Different Perspective.” With a celebrated teaching career spanning decades, Kirchhoff is professor emeritus of conducting at the University of Minnesota and remains true to his […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Jerry Junkin

Whether conducting a group of professionals or students, Jerry Junkin is committed to ensuring that musicians under his baton make an emotional connection to the music. This comes, in part, as a result of choosing the exact, right piece of repertoire for the ensemble, as well as delving into the intent of the composer to […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Barry Houser

Students, leadership, excellence and passion — the core of Barry Houser‘s teaching, as well as his working with directors, is based on the intermingling of these four components. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he is the Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Marching Illini and the Chair of the Conducting Area, […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Jeffrey Grogan

Jeffrey Grogan is an internationally known conductor and teacher who is dedicated to pursuing his craft and sharing the joy of musical excellence with young musicians. His early teaching experience taught him the importance of “getting to work,” teaching grades 6-12 in a very small town. He quickly learned how to manage it all — […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Larry Gookin

Inspired by his own high school band director, Larry Gookin‘s primary focus when conducting wind bands of any level is for the performers to “say something.” Mere perfection of the technical aspects of performance is simply not enough — the musicians must make a personal connection to the music, which results in an expressive, musical […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Kevin Ford

Kevin Ford has two strong tenants that guide his work as the Director of the Leadership Conservatory for the Arts at Tarpon Springs High School in Florida. First, he assists his students, and their families in understanding the connection between the artistic and music-making processes, and growing as individuals to become service-minded and compassionate people. […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Richard Floyd

Richard Floyd is the State Director of Music Emeritus at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a recognized authority on the art and craft of teaching and making music. He is an ideal director for honor ensembles or lecturer at staff development days and MEA events. Floyd specializes in challenging student ensembles and […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Cheryl Floyd

Cheryl Floyd is at home presenting on any instrumental music topic. But as the retired Director of Bands at Hill Country Middle School in Austin, Texas, she shines especially bright in the realm of “all things middle school.” At this incredibly challenging, yet significantly crucial, time in the lives of young music students, she consistently […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Douglas Droste

With a dynamic and engaging teaching style, Douglas Droste brings a level of enthusiasm to orchestral rehearsals, which stems from his determination to achieve musical success for every student, at every level, in every ensemble. He is passionate about this approach and takes full responsibility for ensuring that students are motivated to perform at the highest […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Rodney Dorsey

Dr. Rodney Dorsey‘s expertise in music education stems from a diverse background of experiences, which include teaching at multiple distinct public high schools as well as directing college ensembles for decades. As an African American band director, Dorsey knows what it means and how it feels to be a minority — a unique and motivating […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Travis J. Cross

Dr. Travis J. Cross is a Professor of Music and Director of Bands at UCLA, where he conducts the wind ensemble and symphonic band and directs the graduate wind conducting program. His diverse areas of expertise make Cross an ideal presenter for any session designed to enhance the skills of the earnest band director. For […]

Master Educator Collective

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Daniel Berard

In his inspirational and practical presentations, Daniel Berard, the Director of Bands at Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colorado, shares his experience of starting with nothing but a blank piece of paper and a vision. He helped build support systems comprised of community members and parents to create a thriving program. He brings knowledge […]

About Yamaha Staff

Essential Tips for First-Year Music Educators

40 Under 40 — Nominate a Deserving Music Educator Today!

3 Homework Activities that Encourage Parent Involvement

Advice for First-Year Music Educators

Status of Music Education in Public Schools

9 Yamaha “40 Under 40” Educators Eligible to Win 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award

122 Tips for First-Year Music Educators from the 2022 “40 Under 40”

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Mirian Conti

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Frederic Chiu

How School Service Music Stores Can Help Music Teachers Access ESSER Funds

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Andrea McAlister

Tips for First-Year Music Teachers from the 2021 “40 Under 40” Educators

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Phillip Keveren

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Stan Renard

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Pamela D. Pike

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Serona Elton

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Jeffrey Nytch

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Donny Gruendler

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. David Cutler

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Omar Thomas

Virtual Celebration of the First Performance of the School Year

The United Sound Method for Private Lesson Teachers

Yamaha and 50+ Organizations Unite to Support Arts Education

Resources for Online Teaching

Q&A with Yamaha Master Educator Cheryl Floyd

Q&A with Yamaha Master Educator Daniel Berard

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Michael Pote

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Marguerite Wilder

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Emily Threinen

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Kevin Sedatole

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Marcia Neel

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Anthony Maiello

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Gary Lewis

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Craig Kirchhoff

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Jerry Junkin

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Barry Houser

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Jeffrey Grogan

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Larry Gookin

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Kevin Ford

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Richard Floyd

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Cheryl Floyd

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Douglas Droste

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Rodney Dorsey

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Travis J. Cross

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Daniel Berard