The challenges of working with a "small band" can sometimes cause us to look toward the greener pastures of the "large band" program. Through years of experience in small schools, these clinicians will provide proven strategies on how to achieve musical success in all areas of performance. ALL band students deserve a superior musical experience, no matter what size of the program. From day one of beginner band thru the graduation of the high school band member, these techniques can change the perception of directors, students, parents, and administrators.
Bigger is not better because size doesn't matter.
Rebecca Warren
- Biographical Information
Rebecca Warren currently serves as associate band director at Mandan Middle School as well as coordinator of the 6th grade band program and director of the Mandan High School Marching Braves. She previously taught 28 years in Alabama. Mrs. Warren served as Band Director at Lynn High School in rural Winston County for 4 years followed by a 10-year position as Band Director at West Point High School in rural Cullman County. She then became Director of Bands at Ft. Payne City Schools where she stayed until 2008.
Mrs. Warren’s bands consistently earned superior ratings in all areas of assessment including concert band, marching band, and jazz band. Her bands performed throughout the United States as well as London, England. Her students were annually selected to perform in the Alabama All-State Bands as well as regional honor bands and collegiate honor bands.
While teaching in Alabama, Mrs. Warren was an active member of the music education profession serving as ABA Chairman for Districts 2 and 3, President-elect of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, and President the Alabama Music Educators Association. While serving as President of AMEA she founded the FAME- Future Alabama Music Educators program to recruit and educate high school juniors and seniors interested in becoming music educators. In North Dakota, she served as the West Region Band Representative to the Board of the NDMEA.
Professional memberships include the North Dakota Music Educators Association, the Alabama Music Educators Association, the Alabama Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu where she served as President of the North Dakota Chapter.
Rebecca has served as clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and the Midwest Band Clinic. She has also served on the summer band camp staff at Wallace College, Troy University, and Auburn University. Mrs. Warren teaches B.L.T.- Band Leadership Training to band students during the summer. She presents professional development workshops for music educators.
Mrs. Warren resides on the prairie of North Dakota with her husband John, also a band director, and their two golden retrievers, Rotti and Bama.
Lori K. Hart is in her thirty fourth year as an instrumental music educator in both public and private schools. In 1979, she received her Bachelors of Music Education degree from Troy State University. She began her career in rural Cullman County, Alabama, and then became Director of Bands at Daleville High School. She later served as Associate Director of Bands in the Guntersville City School System. Ms. Hart also spent several years teaching in rural areas of Georgia and Tennessee. In 2002-2006 Ms. Hart was Director of Bands and Principal of Destin Christian Academy in Destin Florida. She is currently in her 10th year of serving as Director of Bands at Wicksburg High School, a small farm community in southeast Alabama.
Throughout Ms. Hart’s career, on both the Middle School and High School level, her marching and concert bands have consistently received superior ratings. She is active as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughout the Southeast, including ABA District III Honor Band, the University of North Alabama Invitational Honor Band and the 2013 SEUS Middle School Honor Bands, as well as, numerous All-County Bands. Ms. Hart currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands. She is the past Chairman of District VIII for the Alabama Bandmasters Association and has recently been elected to a second term. She is an active member of the National Association of Music Educators, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, and a Lifetime Member of the Honorary Band Sorority, Tau Beta Sigma. She also serves as a volunteer for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2012 and 2014, Ms. Hart was selected as one of the Outstanding Professional Women in America.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and entertaining, and relaxing at the beach. She has two children, Elizabeth Gray Thomas and Jonathan Hart Thomas and resides in Dothan, Alabama.