Midwest Clinic

Welcome music educators! Our team is looking forward to meeting you at this year’s Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference and serving your professional needs in any way we can. Ask us about the free resources we have on program planning, advocacy, funding and other teaching and professional development needs.

The Midwest Clinic gives us an opportunity to connect with all of you and to remind you that Yamaha is your partner in music education, not just through our great instruments and professional audio products but also with resources, support and professional development.

See our Product Showcase at Midwest

We want to express our appreciation and gratitude for everyone involved in making this conference possible. We want to continue to hear about your programs and learn about you and your specific needs to see how Yamaha can partner with you to help.

Stop by our booth to say hello. We’re eager to talk with you about your needs as a performer or educator. See you in Chicago!

If you need help or have questions, please reach out directly to us at educators@yamaha.com. Sign up for the Yamaha Educator newsletter to access advocacy, professional development, information on instruments, resources, partnerships in education and more.

• Come see Yamaha Master Educator Michael Pote discuss “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something … Green.” 
  • Session Date and Time: Wednesday, December 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (W180) 
  • Description: Yamaha Master Educator Michael Pote guides you through taking full advantage of the Harmony Director HD-300.

Sessions with Yamaha Master Educators and Yamaha “40 Under 40” honorees are highlighted in PURPLE below. 

Wednesday, December 20

• 2:00-3:00 p.m. — Wiff Rudd, “Side by Side: Building and Sustaining an Effective Community in the Music Studio” (W178)
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. — Allen Vizzutti, Youth Performing Arts School Wind Ensemble Performance (W375AB)
• 3:45-4:45 p.m. — Bret Kuhn, “The Cavaliers — Special Needs & Incredible Deeds: How to Institute an Inclusive Musical Experience for Students of All Abilities” (W178)
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. — YAMAHA MASTER EDUCATOR TRAVIS J. CROSS, “ZERO TO CONCERT IN 48 HOURS: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS WITH HONOR BANDS” (W187)
• 5:30-7:00 p.m. and 7:30-9:15 p.m. — Patrick Morgan, Amy McCabe, Philip Broome, David Constantine, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band Concerts (W375AB)

Thursday, December 21

• 8:30-9:30 a.m. — Dean Sorenson, “The Jazz Band Rehearsal: A Work of Art” (W192)
• 8:45-9:45 a.m. — Chris Martin, Lambert High School Wind Ensemble Performance (W375AB)
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — YAMAHA MASTER EDUCATOR MARCIA NEEL,“5 S.M.A.R.T. IDEAS TO RETAIN THIS YEAR’S BEGINNERS: A PRIMER FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTORS” (W185)
• 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. — Jason Bergman, “Sound Solutions: Troubleshooting the Trumpet Section” (W186)
• 2:00-3:00 p.m. — Michael Forbes, Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet Performance (W183)
• 3:00-4:00 p.m. — Tracy Wiggins, “From the Podium: Get the Percussion Sound You Want and the Sound You Need!” (W187)
• 3:30-4:00 p.m. — YAMAHA MASTER EDUCATOR CHERYL FLOYD, “CHAT: TUNEFUL TEACHING FROM THE VERY START” (W193)
• 4:30-5:45 p.m. — Matt Pivec, Butler University Jazz Ensemble Performance (W196)
• 4:45-5:15 p.m. — YAMAHA MASTER EDUCATOR RODNEY DORSEY, “CHAT: RODNEY DORSEY” (W193)
• 4:45-5:45 p.m. — John Nichol, Jeff Loeffert, Kim Loeffert, Geoff Diebel, h2 Quartet Performance (W183)

Friday, December 22

• 8:30-9:30 a.m. — MATT HARLOFF AND YAMAHA MASTER EDUCATOR BARRY HOUSER, “IT’S ALL ABOUT CULTURE” (W185)
• 2:00-3:00 p.m. — Matthew Black, Carmel High School Percussion Ensemble Performance (W184)
• 3:00-4:00 p.m. — YAMAHA MASTER EDUCATOR RODNEY DORSEY, “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO PERFORM AT MIDWEST”(W191)
• 3:00-4:00 p.m. — Kyle Hutchins, “Growing Up Your Saxophone From Middle School To College” (W187)
• 3:15-3:45 p.m. — YAMAHA MASTER EDUCATOR RICHARD FLOYD, “CHAT: BEING CORRECT DON’T MAKE IT RIGHT” (W176)
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. —  YAMAHA “40 UNDER 40” HONOREE DANIELLE COLLINS, “A PLACE TO BELONG: REACHING YOUR STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE” (W190)
• 7:00-8:15 p.m. — Larry Williams, Gateways Brass Collective Performance (W375AB)

For a complete list of clinics and performances, visit the Midwest Clinic Schedule.

Through the Yamaha Educator Suite blog site and SupportED magazine, Yamaha reaches thousands of educators with professional development tips, advice and resources. If you have questions or need help finding resources for your program, email us at educators@yamaha.com.

Here is a sampling of our top professional development articles:

• Celebrating Excellence in Music Education — “40 Under 40”
• 20 Ways to Set the Tempo for a Great School Year
• 10 Ways to Make Your Students’ Day
• Caring Comes in Many Forms
• Why You Need to Be a Good Conductor
• How to Design a Marching Band Show
• Develop Atomic Habits for Your Program
• The ABCs of Classroom Management
• Getting Started Teaching the DAW
• Delayed Gratification: When Students Get Tired, Teach Them to Rest, Not Quit
• Teaching Music in High Need Schools: Building Rapport
• The Performance Mind Game
• Tips to Manage Workload and Find Work-Life Balance
• Curriculum Planning with a Purpose: Begin with the End 
• How to Deal with Common Stressors
• The Yamaha Master Educator Collective: Learn from Distinguished Teachers