Without a reference point, identifying out of tune notes may pose a significant challenge for young players. Fortunately, technological advancements, such as the Harmony Director and Tonal Energy have provided directors with the tools to teach students to identify and correct intonation concerns. This clinic will provide both the conceptual groundwork for teaching intonation and specific tips for using the latest technology when teaching tuning in the classroom.
Jordan Stern
- Biographical Information
Jordan Stern is a lecturer on the music education faculty of the Texas State University school of music. His responsibilities include teaching methods courses, teaching a course on arranging for concert band, instructing the Bobcat Marching Band drumline, and supervising student teachers.
In addition to his duties at Texas State, Jordan is an active arranger for both marching and concert bands. His design clients have included the bands of Claudia Taylor Johnson HS, Ronald Reagan HS, Cedar Park HS, Winston Churchill HS, Azle HS, Plano HS, Mustang HS (OK), Tottenville HS (NY), Brennan HS, Bryant HS (AR), Clear Lake HS, Foster HS, CC Winn HS, and the two-time WGI Independent Open Finalist 5 Points Percussion.
Since 2005, Jordan has enjoyed working with many private students at the middle school and high school levels. In this time, 13 of his students have successfully auditioned for placement in the TMEA All-State bands, with his students earning first-chair honors in the state in 2014, 2015 and 2016. His students have also won the Percussive Arts Society High School Individual Marimba Competition four times, with another student placing as first runner-up.
Jordan previously worked as an Associate Band Director at Claudia Taylor Johnson and William Brennan High Schools. During his tenure at Johnson, the marching band distinguished itself with such honors as 1st place at the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional, 3rd place at the U.I.L. 6A State Marching Contest, and was a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield. As a concert band director, his ensembles at Brennan and Johnson consistently received first division ratings at UIL Concert and Sight Reading contest. Jordan also previously served as the front ensemble coordinator for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and Winston Churchill High School.
John Denis has several years of experience working with Texas student at the public school and college level. Dr. Denis creates and produces Program Notes: The Beginning Band Director Podcast, a program designed to help preservice and inservice directors find success in their own classrooms. He has been active as a clinician in Texas and his writing has been featured in publications such as Update: Applications of Research in Music Education; The Journal of Music, Technology, and Education; Contributions to Music Education; and The Southwestern Musician. He has also presented at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention, California All-State Music Education Conference, Maryland Music Educators February Conference, the NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference, ISME World Conference, and NAfME Teacher In-service Conference. Dr. Denis is currently on the faculty at Texas State University, where he teaches upper-level music education courses, completes music education research, and presents at conferences.