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Time:

Friday
December, 21, 2018
03:00 PM - 04:00 PM

Location:

Meeting Room W187

Clinician(s)

Leslie Sellers

Leslie Sellers

[email protected]
Deborah Perkins

Deborah Perkins

[email protected]
Derrick Horne

Derrick Horne

Finger Pattern Exercises: Repetitive, Variable, and Fun!

Clinic Synopsis:

Daily finger patterns are a key element in any string program. Derrick, Deb, and Les will be presenting a system of finger pattern exercises they call the “String Fingers” approach. Make the classic exercises both fun and repetitive. Free yourself from the podium so you can walk around the room while the kids jam away! Pattern variations in bowings, rhythms, and fingerings will be provided.

Leslie Sellers - Biographical Information

Originally from Dallas TX, Les Sellers began his teaching career in 2007 by starting a band program at a tiny, rural school in Arkansas relying on donated instruments and creativity. There, he discovered a passion for teaching music to underprivileged students by combining proven teaching methods with innovative techniques and technology. He now teaches high school orchestra in a low-income community in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Since 2008, Les has played bass guitar with the Arkansas National Guard 106th Army Band. He also has experience as a double bassist in the South Arkansas Symphony, Texarkana Symphony, and Marshall Texas Symphony Orchestras. Les holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from University of Arkansas at Monticello and a Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Central Arkansas. Les is a member of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association and the Texas Music Educators Association and has presented clinics at these organization's major conventions. When he’s not teaching or performing, Les enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife and fellow-musician, April, and their two energetic sons, Nehemiah and Jude.

Deborah Perkins - Biographical Information

Deborah Perkins, Ph.D., is known for her love of teaching diverse musical styles and for her ability to have fun by creating an encouraging atmosphere that challenges students as they achieve mastery of musical skills beyond their age level. She received her B.M.E. degree from State University College at Potsdam, N.Y.; M.M.E. degree from the University of South Carolina; and a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas. Also known for building programs, Perkins has built and reinforced public school orchestra programs in Florida, South Carolina and Texas. She has served in a leadership position in ASTA (American String Teachers Association) and TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) and is serving a two-year term as “Member at Large” on the national ASTA board. Perkins currently teaches string pedagogy and string techniques, and conducts "Mustang Strings," a string orchestra at Southern Methodist University founded fall 2011 that is open to non-majors. She is the co-founder of the internationally travelling Texas Youth Orchestra, which has performed in Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and the United Kingdom; trips to Spain and France and planned for 2015. A hallmark of her teaching is making music that expresses and touches the heart of the students and audiences alike. Fondly referred to as the “Pied Piper of Strings” by her friends, her dissertation focused on the motivation of students enrolling in orchestra. Perkins maintains an active schedule as a clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor throughout the United States and serves as a performing artist and clinician for Eastman Strings. She is married to Steve Perkins, and they have one daughter, Kayla.

Derrick Horne - Biographical Information

Derrick Horne’s career as a performer, producer, recording engineer and session musician exceeds 600 commercially available recordings. His versatility as a multi-instrumentalist has allowed him to contribute to a wide variety of productions ranging from pop, R&B, jazz, world music, gospel, country and chamber music. As a result, several projects that featuring his contributions have been nominated for GRAMMY and other awards. Horne completed Masters in both Composition and Theory Pedagogy at Southern Methodist University where he is currently Professor of Practice in Music Theory and Music Industry Practices. He is also the director of the Meadows Jazz Orchestra. In 2014 his guitar orchestra piece Quintango won the Austin Classical Guitar Society’s composition contest. Most recently his Fanfare for Brass was performed at the Royal Academy of Music. Based in Texas, Horne has hundreds of published songs as a songwriter. He books include String Fingers Accompaniment Tracks and How to Take Your Home Studio Worldwide. He also runs Yokebreaker Productions, an entertainment services company. He is endorsed by Ernie Ball Strings, S. Martyn Instruments, Orange Amps, Hammond Organs, Pavel Musical Instruments and Ed Lynch Custom Guitars. Along with conference presentations, recordings, and performances, he continues to press towards his goal of taking music education to lower income countries. He resides in Texas with his wife, Gabriela, and son Isaiah.

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