This purpose of this clinic is to provide teachers with insight, tips, and quick-fixes in navigating the challenges of the horn – both in ensemble and individual instruction. Live-playing demonstrations will be given by the clinician to demonstrate pedagogical solutions to several of the most common challenges faced by young horn players. Recorded video clips of the clinician’s ensemble and horn students will be used to demonstrate solutions and horn pedagogy in realistic teaching scenarios.
Keith Griffis
- Biographical Information
Keith Griffis is the Director of Bands at Walter L. Sickles High
School in Tampa, FL where he oversees all band activities including Wind
Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensembles, and the “Marching Wall
of Sound.” Bands under Mr. Griffis’ direction consistently earn superior
ratings in concert, marching, and jazz assessment and have earned the Florida
Bandmasters Association’s “Otto J. Kraushaar” award for straight-superior
ratings at both the district and state level. Mr. Griffis holds a Master’s
degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida and is a
graduate Cum Laude from Florida State University, where he earned Bachelor
degrees in Music Education and Horn Performance and served as the Head Drum
Major of the FSU Marching Chiefs. Mr. Griffis is active as a clinician and
adjudicator, and frequently performs professionally as a horn player. Most
recently Mr. Griffis served as the principal horn of the Florida Wind Band, and
has enjoyed performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Albany
Symphony Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and as a featured
soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Griffis has been
recognized as the Sickles High School “Teacher of the Year” and the
Hillsborough County Parent-Teacher Association “Instructional Person of the
Year.” Mr. Griffis is active in the Florida Bandmasters Association, having
served as coordinator of the All-State Concert Band and as District Chair.