The Yamaha Master Educator Collective
You have a long list of goals when you enter the classroom each day: Be a better music educator. Help students succeed. Feel inspired and empowered.
We can help you achieve all of your goals with our Yamaha Master Educator Collective, a roster of 30 all-star educators. This esteemed group covers a range of school levels and topics, and offers music teachers mentorship, expert advice and tried-and-true tips that will support and enhance your music programs.
The Yamaha Master Educator Collective currently has three distinct groupings:
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- Band and Orchestra is made up of instrumental conductors or educators who specialize in the advancement of instrumental music education. Each is celebrated in several areas of expertise including conducting technique, rehearsal strategy, student leadership, program building, retention and more.
- Keyboard Pedagogy comprises renowned and adept educators and composers who teach piano pedagogy, keyboard labs and keyboard methods in a K-12 or post-secondary setting. They are accomplished in many areas including virtual keyboard lab settings, adult learning, connecting the student to the music and more.
- Music Business and Entrepreneurship includes educators and career professionals who specialize in teaching music business and arts entrepreneurship in the modern music industry. They prepare students for a wide range of career paths in the music industry. Their mastery covers a variety of topics including income diversification, unlocking innovation, music copyright and more.
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The Yamaha Master Educators are available to work on-site with music teachers during staff development, as well as speak and conduct appointments with state music education associations, district meetings for music teachers and fine arts departments, districtwide in-service days, and both virtual and in-person clinics for educators or students.
To learn more about the collective and to discuss which Yamaha Master Educator and topic will best meet your needs, please contact Jalissa Gascho at jgascho@yamaha.com.
View the Yamaha Master Educator Collective brochure.
Meet the Yamaha Master Educators
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Daniel Berard
Clinician and Education Consultant
Retired K-12 Music Educator
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Mirian Conti
Concert Pianist, Faculty of the Juilliard School Evening Division
The Juilliard School
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Dr. Travis J. Cross
Professor of Music,
Director of Bands
University of California, Los Angeles
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Dr. David Cutler
Distinguished Professor of Music Entrepreneurship and Innovation
University of South Carolina
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Dr. Rodney Dorsey
Prof. of Music, Conductor of Wind Orchestra, Director of Graduate Wind Conducting Studies
Florida State University College of Music
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Douglas Droste
Dir. of Orchestral Studies
Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music
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Serona Elton
Director of the Music Industry Program,
Chair of the Music Industry Department / Head of Educational Partnerships
University of Miami, Frost School of Music
The Mechanical Licensing Collective
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Cheryl Floyd
Hill Country MS Director of Bands (retired), Leander ISD flute instructor, music consultant and mentor
Hill Country Middle School, Leander ISD, Eanes ISD
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Richard Floyd
Texas State Director of Music Emeritus
The University of Texas at Austin
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Kevin Ford
Dir. of the Leadership Conservatory for the Arts
Tarpon Springs High School
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Larry Gookin
Distinguished Prof. and Emeritus Prof. of Music
Central Washington University
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Jeffrey Grogan
Professor of Music, Director of Orchestral Studies / Artistic Director and Conductor
Oklahoma City University / Oklahoma Youth Orchestras
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Dr. Donny Gruendler
Faculty, Doctor of Education in Learning Technologies Program
Pepperdine University
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Barry Houser
Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Marching Illini, Chair of the Conducting Area
University of illinois, Urbana-Champaign
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Jerry Junkin
Director of Bands,
Prof. of Wind Conducting
The University of Texas at Austin
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Craig Kirchhoff
Prof. of Music, Dir. Emeritus of University Bands
University of Minnesota
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Gary Lewis
Dir. of Orchestral Studies, Bob and Judy Charles Professor of Conducting, Music Director of the West Texas Symphony Orchestra
University of Colorado Boulder
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Dr. Dennis Llinás
Director of Bands, Associate Professor of Conducting & Music
University of Oregon
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Anthony Maiello
Distinguished University Professor
George Mason University
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Andrea McAlister
Professor of Piano Pedagogy
Oberlin College and Conservatory
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Dr. Sarah McKoin
Director of Bands, Professor of Music
Texas Tech University
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Marcia Neel
Senior Director of Education for Yamaha Corp. of America;
President of Music Education Consultants
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Dr. Jeffrey Nytch
Professor of Composition,
Director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Music
University of Colorado Boulder
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Dr. Pamela D. Pike
Herndon Spillman Professorship in Piano Pedagogy / Editor in Chief, Chief Content Director
Louisiana State University / Piano Magazine
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Dr. Stan Renard
Assoc. Dean, Assoc. Prof. of Arts Management and Entrepreneurship, Dir. of the Arts Incubation Lab, The University of Oklahoma
Exec. Dir., Monteux School & Music Festival
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Dana Sedatole
Music Education Specialist / Past President
Michigan State University / Texas Music Educator Association
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Dr. Kevin Sedatole
Prof. of Music, Dir. of Bands
Michigan State University
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Omar Thomas
Assistant Professor of Composition
The University of Texas at Austin
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Dr. Emily Threinen
Director of Bands,
Associate Prof. of Music
University of Minnesota
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Marguerite Wilder
Middle School Conductor (retired), Clinician and Consultant