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, Houser brings a unique energy and enthusiasm to all that his varied positions require. His teaching background encompasses both extensive high school and university experiences, which have been met with incredible success.
He ignites a passion in others for life-long music-making, regardless of their chosen career path. He is in constant pursuit of artistry and believes in continuing to pursue success and excellence every day.
Keeping students at the core and heart of what music educators teach is a pillar Houser stands by, both in teaching and in practice. His own experience as a collaborative director has led him to discover that directors must do more than “copy and paste” what other programs have done. Rather, there must be a comprehensive understanding of the process that leads to success. Meeting the ensemble where it is then taking it to the next level is his mantra to band directors. By focusing on the students and their ability to grasp musical concepts, Houser believes that musical excellence will follow and will ultimately drive the ensemble forward.
Providing opportunities for success for each student is at the heart of all that Houser does. He believes that the sky is the limit as long as he holds students to a communicated level of excellence, whether in the classroom, on the gridiron, or in life outside of the music-making realm.
Some of Barry Houser’s session titles are:
- From the Football Field to the Concert Stage
- Technology on the Gridiron
- System + Spirit = Success
- Inspiring Leadership
To learn more about clinics by Barry Houser, please contact Jalissa Gascho at jgascho@yamaha.com.