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Music Educators

Why I Keep Coming Back to BOA Summer Camp

A young music educator attended the Bands of America Summer Camp on a scholarship and became hooked. He now serves on the camp staff and encourages other music educators to attend camp, too.

Summer of Learning

Attend a summer workshop — most run from one day to one week — to enhance your skills as a music educator.

Let Students Take Control During Rehearsals

Challenge your musicians to handle score study and rehearsals on their own — and even perform without you conducting them — in a unique and effective teaching model.

Why Guitar?

Five reasons why teaching guitar is rewarding and worth adding to your class offerings.

Why Teach the Blues?

Guitar students can learn to solo confidently by learning and understanding the language, style and form of the blues.

People Who Can Help You and Your Program

Look beyond the four walls of your band room and reach out to the people who can help you and your music room succeed.

Mastering Tomorrow Starts Tonight!

Consider tomorrow’s actions the night before and set yourself up for success. Make your future lives easier and focus your brainpower on the things that matter.

Programming with Limited Winds Instrumentation

Your band can sound amazing if you balance with creative instrument substitutions.

New Conference Connects Music Industry and Education

Musikfest Music Industry and Education Conference presents diverse topics, perspectives and approaches.

Music Class is the Ultimate Life Skills Workshop

In your classroom, students can learn skills far beyond music that will help them prepare for the future.

Thinking About Grad School?

Considerations, modalities and majors — decisions you must make to become a “master” of your domain as you pursue a graduate degree.

AI in the Music Classroom

Music educators must consider the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, which can lead to a more engaging and empowering music learning experience for all students.

Percussion Rehearsal

Engage your percussionists throughout rehearsal and help them grow into musical artists.

Stealth Exercise

With “exercise snacks,” you can squeeze in a workout, even during a busy teaching day.

Requisite Recommendations for First-Year Music Teachers

The 2025 “40 Under 40” educators offer essential tips for new music teachers to help them succeed and thrive.

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dana Sedatole

From serving as a head band director teaching beginning 6th grade instrumentalists to addressing the needs of over 20,000 music educators as president of the Texas Music Educators Association, Dana Pradervand-Sedatole has done it all! Her methodology of keeping fundamentals at the core of her teaching has led her students to become more responsible for […]

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Sarah McKoin

Dr. Sarah McKoin is a passionate educator dedicated to discovering art at any level of performance. She serves as the Director of Bands and Division Chair of Conducting and Ensembles at Texas Tech where she oversees all facets of the University band program, including four concert bands and two athletic bands as well as mentoring […]

Meet Yamaha Master Educator Dr. Dennis Llinas

Vitality! Fervor! Passion! Understanding! Dr. Dennis Llinás doesn’t hide his emotional investment in anything that he does. As an educator, conductor, and composer, Dennis deems music to enrich the lives of everyone involved in the music-making experience … not only the music-makers but the audience members through inventive and engaging programming. He approaches his life’s […]

Liam Keller

Back to 40 Under 40 Liam Keller Director of OrchestrasChatham High School, Lafayette Avenue SchoolChatham, New Jersey Liam Keller, Director of Orchestras at Chatham High School in New Jersey, credits his students’ “dedication, thirst for knowledge and constant chase of that next level of playing” as his driving forces. He’s always finding ways to challenge […]

Lilly Streich

Back to 40 Under 40 Lilly Streich 5-12 Vocal Music TeacherGalena Unit School DistrictGalena, Illinois Lilly Streich always knew she wanted to pursue music. She basically grew up in her father’s drum store, The Drum Pad, and remembers clinics at the store that featured some of the greatest drummers in the area. “I began taking […]

Dr. Aaron J. Witek

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Aaron J. Witek Assistant Professor of Trumpet, Coordinator of Brass and PercussionStetson UniversityDeLand, Florida Since Dr. Aaron J. Witek’s arrival at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, the trumpet studio has tripled in size and has attracted top-tier talent, including all-state-level musicians. The Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Coordinator of […]

Dr. Rachel Woolf

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Rachel Woolf Assistant Professor of Flute The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas Thanks to Dr. Rachel Woolf’s enthusiasm and creative approach to teaching, the flute students at The University of Texas at San Antonio are described as being “on fire.” Woolf fosters student success by building […]

Kim Webb

Back to 40 Under 40 Kim Webb Director of Bands Greene County Tech School District Paragould, Arkansas As Director of Bands at Greene County Tech School District in Paragould, Arkansas, Kim Webb promotes the motto “Belong, Believe, Become” with her students. “Make everyone feel like they belong. Believe in yourself and in each other. Become […]

Riley Warren

Back to 40 Under 40 Riley Warren Director of Percussion, Assistant Band Director Forney High School Forney, Texas Several years after joining the Forney High School Band staff as Director of Percussion and Assistant Band Director, Riley Warren started the Forney ISD Middle School Indoor Drumline. “The beauty of this group is that it creates […]

Dr. Andrew Stetson

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Andrew Stetson Director, School of MusicTexas Tech University School of MusicLubbock, Texas Dr. Andrew Stetson, the Director of the School of Music at Texas Tech University, pioneered the Music Humanities program to engage students from diverse academic backgrounds and to highlight the importance of music as an essential tool […]

Michael Schnell

Back to 40 Under 40 Michael Schnell Middle School Band TeacherOostburg School DistrictOostburg, Wisconsin Because Oostburg High School and Oostburg Middle School share the same building, Michael Schnell, the Middle School Band Teacher, proposed starting a Music Production course for high school students. “One of my favorite classes when I was in high school was […]

Annie Ray

Back to 40 Under 40 Annie Ray Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department ChairAnnandale High School,Annandale,Virginia Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair Annie Ray launched the Crescendo Orchestra for students with significant and severe disabilities at Annandale High School in Virginia. The seeds of the orchestra started in 2017, when twin brothers with significant […]

Joshua Race

Back to 40 Under 40 Joshua Race Director of Bands Fountain-Fort Carson High School, Fountain, Colorado In Joshua Race’s classes at Fountain-Fort Carson High School in Colorado, students learn more than music — they become more aware of their own thought processes. The Director of Bands uses metacognitive strategies to help students reflect on their […]

Nicholas Popovich

Back to 40 Under 40 Nicholas Popovich Music Technology TeacherShadow Mountain High SchoolPhoenix, Arizona Paradise Valley Unified District in Arizona offers an arts academy, North Valley Arts Academies (NVAA), where K-12 students at Desert Cove Elementary School, Shea Middle School and Shadow Mountain High School can take courses in dance, theater, visual art and music […]

Kate Phillips

Back to 40 Under 40 Kate Phillips PK-5 Music TeacherGrant Avenue Elementary SchoolBronx, New York Before it was popular, Kate Phillips, Grant Avenue Elementary School’s PK-5 Music Teacher, was implementing culturally responsive lessons in her classroom. “As a white teacher originally from a suburban Midwest community, it is essential that my Bronx students engage with […]

Adam Odenwelder

Back to 40 Under 40 Adam Odenwelder Guitar Teacher Belmont Ridge Middle School Leesburg, Virginia There is no status quo for the guitar program at Belmont Ridge Middle School in Leesburg, Virginia, led by Adam Odenwelder. “I’m constantly changing things in order to meet the needs of my students in new and exciting ways,” he […]

Leah Motl

Back to 40 Under 40 Leah Motl Orchestra Teacher IJ Holton Intermediate School Austin, Minnesota The orchestra program at IJ Holton Intermediate School in Austin, Minnesota, has grown in numbers and, more importantly, in students’ passion for music. That’s because Orchestra Teacher Leah Motl encourages and motivates her students in several ways. “Praise progress often,” […]

Kevin Morrison

Back to 40 Under 40 Kevin Morrison Director of BandsLambert High SchoolSuwanee, Georgia Kevin Morrison, the Director of Bands at Lambert High School in Suwanee, Georgia, goes above and beyond to educate the community — especially potential band parents — about the school’s band program. “We use a variety of tools since most of our […]

Coty Raven Morris

Back to 40 Under 40 Coty Raven Morris Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education and Social JusticePortland State UniversityPortland, Oregon As the Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education and Social Justice at Portland State University in Oregon, Coty Raven Morris says that she “has the privilege of teaching and working with a multitude […]

Christopher McCurdy

Back to 40 Under 40 Christopher McCurdy Band DirectorUlysses S. Grant High SchoolPortland, Oregon Band Director Christopher McCurdy believes in a group-first mindset, and he vigorously advocates for it at Ulysses S. Grant High School in Portland, Oregon. “Every student deserves an accessible and comprehensive music education no matter where or when they start,” he […]

Orien Landis

Back to 40 Under 40 Orien Landis Director of BandsAmerican Fork High SchoolAmerican Fork, Utah Many people describe their programs as student-led, but at American Fork High School in Utah, the marching band is just that. According to Director of Bands Orien Landis, “Our student leadership team essentially runs the band program. During the marching […]

Shan Kazmi

Back to 40 Under 40 Shan Kazmi Director of BandsZion-Benton Township High School Zion, Illinois Working at a Title I school like Zion-Benton Township High School can be challenging, but Director of Bands Shan Kazmi only sees the positives. “Our students are great. I know people will say that kids are the same everywhere, but […]

Zane Kaiser

Back to 40 Under 40 Zane Kaiser Band and Orchestra TeacherJustice Page Middle School, Minneapolis Public SchoolsMinneapolis, Minnesota When Zane Kaiser started as the Band and Orchestra Teacher at Justice Page Middle School in Minneapolis, the music program had no budget allocated to it. In the seven years since, Kaiser has built the program and […]

Cody Jackson

Back to 40 Under 40 Cody Jackson Band DirectorHeights Middle School Farmington, New Mexico Band Director Cody Jackson began his tenure at Heights Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico, in the fall of 2020, when the pandemic was at its height and all classes were virtual. He inherited a program of approximately 84 students, all […]

Alex Hitrick

Back to 40 Under 40 Alex Hitrick 7-12 Music Teacher Broadalbin-Perth Jr./Sr. High SchoolBroadalbin, New York Alex Hitrick began teaching at Broadalbin-Perth Jr./Sr. High School, during the attempt to return to normalcy post-COVID in September 2020. The enrollment numbers were pretty dismal. “I had about 20 students in middle school chorus and 12 in high […]

Dr. Cordara X. Harper

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Cordara X. Harper Assistant Professor of Music Education, Choir Director, Music Education Coordinator, Vocal Music CoordinatorGrambling State UniversityGrambling, Louisiana The Grambling State University Concert Choir was founded in 1947 as a glee club. Over its 78-year history, the choir has released two acclaimed albums and garnered significant recognition. Its […]

Bob Habersat

Back to 40 Under 40 Bob Habersat Director, ShedthemusicCommercial Music TeacherOak Lawn Community High SchoolOak Lawn, Illinois Bob Habersat, the Commercial Music Teacher at Oak Lawn Community High School in Illinois, first started recording instructional videos to help his piano students grasp concepts like the bass clef when they missed class. “This allowed them to […]

Dr. Liliana Guerrero

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Liliana Guerrero Assistant Professor of VoiceButler School of Music. University of Texas, AustinAustin, Texas During Dr. Liliana Guerrero’s year as a Teaching Artist for the Austin Opera, she went to local elementary schools to introduce students to the concept of opera by telling them stories, singing some arias and […]

Marissa Guarriello

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Marissa Guarriello Visiting Assistant Professor of String Music EducationUniversity of North CarolinaGreensboro, North Carolina Last summer, as the Director of Music Programming for ArtsQuest, Dr. Marissa Guarriello helped organize a new conference for music educators. “Some of the senior leadership at ArtsQuest was interested in starting a conference for […]

Paul Glader

Back to 40 Under 40 Paul Glader Band and Choir DirectorBethel-Tate Middle SchoolBethel, Ohio Band and Choir Director Paul Glader put his classroom motto on the wall for all his students at Bethel-Tate Middle School in Ohio to see: 1) be kind, 2) strive to be better and 3) love music. “That means having the […]

Lee B. Gibson

Back to 40 Under 40 Lee B. Gibson Assistant Director of BandsBarberton CIty Schools,Barberton, Ohio 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, […]

Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster Assistant Professor of Practice of Music EducationVirginia TechBlacksburg, Virginia Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster, Assistant Professor of Practice of Music Education at Virginia Tech, saw a need to help and coalesce music teachers in rural areas, so she co-founded the Rural Band Director Alliance (RBDA). “It started […]

Dr. Sarah Fabian

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Sarah Fabian Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of MusicGardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, North Carolina When Dr. Sarah Fabian, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands, arrived at Gardner-Webb University in Bolling Springs, North Carolina, she revamped the recruitment strategy. She visited high schools, attended music festivals and met with […]

Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich Associate Professor of Music Education and FluteSlippery Rock UniversitySlippery Rock, Pennsylvania Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich, Associate Professor of Music Education and Flute, founded a win-win initiative at Slippery Rock University (SRU) in Pennsylvania that bridges the gap between the school and the surrounding community. SRU’s Early Childhood and […]

Laura Del Rosso

Back to 40 Under 40 Laura Del Rosso Modern Band TeacherLower Manhattan Community Middle School, New York City Public SchoolsNew York, New York “My program is fueled on community and joy,” says Laura Del Rosso, Modern Band Teacher at Lower Manhattan Community Middle School in New York. “I believe that music-making should be FUN, from […]

Lindsay Cummings

Back to 40 Under 40 Lindsay Cummings Artist Faculty, Musical Theatre Voice, The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt UniversityProfessor of Musical Theatre Voice, Loyola University Chicago. Owner of Chicago Music & Acting Academy Executive Director and Founder of Downstage Art Expressing artistry is at the core of the teaching philosophy of Lindsay Cummings, […]

Tanatchaya “Tanya” Chanphanitpornkit

Back to 40 Under 40 Tanatchaya Chanphanitpornkit Director of OrchestrasNyack High School, New YorkLecturer of Music Education, Brooklyn CollegeMusic Director, Crescendo Orchestra of New York Youth Symphony According to Tanatchaya “Tanya” Chanphanitpornkit, the Director of Orchestras at Nyack High School in New York, her main goal with her students is building more than just musical […]

Dr. Gene Butler

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Gene Butler Director of BandsSmiths Station High SchoolSmiths Station, Alabama Dr. Gene Butler is only the third Director of Bands at Smiths Station High School in Alabama since 1972. The other two — Mr. Rick Teel and Dr. Rusty Courson — were Butler’s band directors during his middle school […]

Nick Blue

Back to 40 Under 40 Nick Blue Assistant Director of BandsFranklin High SchoolFranklin, Tennessee Nick Blue was recently named the Assistant Director of Bands at Franklin High School in Tennessee. The school’s band is a seven-time Tennessee State Marching Band Champion and has marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade, twice in the Macy’s Thanksgiving […]

Michael Blanco

Back to 40 Under 40 Michael Blanco Assistant Director of MariachiLas Vegas High SchoolLas Vegas, Nevada Imagine being invited to perform at the White House with your ensemble! That’s what happened to Michael Blanco, Assistant Director of Mariachi at Las Vegas High School. In the fall of 2024, Mariachi Joya, the school’s award-winning group, was […]

Erin Barra

Back to 40 Under 40 Erin Barra Executive Director, We Make Noise Assistant Professor and Director of the Popular Music ProgramArizona State University Empowerment is a core value for Erin Barra, the Executive Director of We Make Noise and an Assistant Professor and Director of the Popular Music Program at Arizona State University. “Empowerment seeps […]

Evan Aguilar

Back to 40 Under 40 Evan Aguilar Director of Choral and Piano Activities Cibola High SchoolAlbuquerque Public SchoolsNew Mexico Collaboration is a key component of Evan Aguilar’s music program at Cibola High School in New Mexico. As the Director of Choral and Piano Activities at Cibola as well as at Albuquerque Public Schools, Aguilar has […]

40 Under 40 – 2025

2025 Yamaha “40 Under 40” — Music Education Excellence Yamaha launched the “40 Under 40” music education advocacy program in 2021 to celebrate and recognize outstanding young music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs. Now, we celebrate our fifth group of remarkable educators whose classrooms are safe spaces […]

Jacob Abbott

Back to 40 Under 40 Jacob Abbott Performing Arts DirectorDresden High SchoolDresden, Tennessee The music program at Dresden High School in Tennessee went from “zero to hero” in the time that Jacob Abbott has served as its Performing Arts Director. Before Abbott came to Dresden, there was only one Music Appreciation class offered. Now, there […]

It’s OK to be Bored

Recognize that the ordinary, routine and predictable days of the school year will lead to the finest moments in your teaching career.

Engaging Wind Rehearsals

Try these tips on how to rehearse your winds section and maximize your time during rehearsals.

Creatively Reach Special Needs Students

A California music educator offers special education students musical opportunities, using different and effective approaches.

The Nontraditional “Non-Semble”

A Wisconsin music educator uses nontraditional music ensembles to reach more students

Discover the New and Improved Marching Hardware from Yamaha

An exclusive interview with the drums and percussion product marketing manager who provides insight into how the new line of carriers and stands were developed.

Concert Chairs to Marching Squares

Try these 8 tips to help students switch instruments.

Spooky Sound Mysteries

From haunting to downright bizarre, these sounds make for a fun fall exploration with your music students.

Score Study Comes First!

Seven steps to help you make time to dive into score study.

The Power of Problem-Solving

Making modern music bridged COVID learning to a new co-curricular digital music program at a Pennsylvania school district.

Make Concerts Memorable and Fun

A South Carolina orchestra director uses creativity to engage her students and the audience.

Guitar Maintenance

Take care of your instrument from the strings, fretboard, finish and more to keep your guitar looking and sounding good.

General Care for Your Stringed Instrument

Properly caring for your stringed instrument will not only provide superior sound quality and playability, but it also increases the longevity of your instrument.

How to Effectively Partner with School Administration

Fostering a close-knit teacher-administrator relationship will pay dividends for your music program.

Connecting Music and Peace

At Eastern Mennonite University, students can earn a new degree that combines music education with diplomacy.

A Symposium for Women Musicians

How a Girl Scout project became the impetus for an annual all-women honor band concert for states in the Southeast.

Empowering Women in Music

An educator’s journey to inspire future generations by celebrating and showcasing the successes of women composers and musicians.

Create an Emergency Bag for Work

Have these 15 items on hand to handle minor emergencies that you will inevitably run into.

How has COVID affected today’s students?

A look at the possible impact the pandemic had on music education for elementary, middle and high school students.

Exercise Can Help Fine-Motor Skills

Research suggests that a burst of exercise can boost the fine-motor skills required to learn an instrument.

Compartmentalizing Stress in Teaching

All music educators deal with stress. The key is how you handle it. Here are some tips to navigate everyday stressors.

The Magic in the Details

An Indiana music educator overcomes obstacles and fosters excellence in WGI.

The “No-Shortcuts” Approach

Putting in the work is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it’ll give you a leg up as you progress in your career.

You Will Never Feel “Ready,” But You Can Be Prepared

Nine recommendations for music education majors and novice in-service music educators to hone their skills.

Use Music to Connect with Students of All Ages

An adjunct professor at George Mason University helps music education majors as well as children around the world to communicate through music.

Five Facts About the Piccolo

Many people equate the piccolo with the flute, but the tiny higher-pitched instrument has an interesting history of its own.

Overcoming Performance Anxiety

Earning trust and treating elementary students with respect are key to helping them perform with pride.

The Daily Grind: Find Joy in the Routine

Embrace these five truths and you’ll succeed and thrive as a music educator.

Teaching Music in High-Need Schools: Sustainability

In the 7th and final part of this series, we look at facing the challenge of sustaining music programs, particularly in Title I schools.

Healthy Tips for Educators

Try these five tips to keep your health in check — you’ll be taking better care of yourself and your students!

Teaching Music in High-Need Schools: Retention

In part 6 of this series, we look at ways to retain students and foster program growth.

Teaching is Planting Seeds

Patience is required to see the benefits of your teaching efforts.

Teach Guitar Chords

Encourage students to learn and play chords by scaffolding success.

Tuning a Guitar

Teach intonation on a guitar in a fun way using pitch memory and tuners.

Pop Guitar as an Entry Point

Try these five steps to introduce guitar in a process-focused, structured way.

Start a Guitar Program

A guitar program will provide a musical opportunity to students who would not usually join traditional band, orchestra or choir.

Give Up Control

When given the opportunity, students reach farther and achieve more, so let them take charge and see what unfolds.

Berklee’s Outreach Program Celebrates 30 Years of Success

Berklee City Music proves that music education is alive and well in Boston with K-12 after-school and summer programs and a variety of ensembles in multiple genres. This outreach now extends beyond Beantown through partner programs to reach more than 60,000 students ever year.

The Benefits of Learning Another Instrument

By playing multiple instruments, you will broaden your musical perspective and be a better composer and arranger.

Sustainable Excellence

Adapt your educational visions for community needs without compromising standards. Emphasize long-term commitment and realistic goal setting.

Prepare for Spring Concerts

As the New Year begins, if you haven’t thought about your Spring concerts, you better start now! Here are some things to consider as you prepare for your next performances to close out the school year!

Teaching Music in High-Need Schools: Funding

In part 5 of this series, we look at funding your music program, from federal funds to fundraising and partnerships.