Developing Discovery Mindsets Beyond Covid: A Tale of Two Districts
Clinic Synopsis:
Although Round Rock, TX and Shelby County, TN districts differ demographically, both focused on Discovery Mindsets and collaboration during the pandemic. They reframed thinking to address social emotional learning and musical success. Attendees will enjoy a lively discussion about the experiences of four exemplary educators, including how the programs collaborated and how they plan to scale their work. The session will include an activity for attendees to connect and collaborate.
Nola Jones
- Biographical Information
Dr. Nola Jones recently retired as Director of Educational Programs for Conn-Selmer Inc. Previously, she served as Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. While supporting over 400 arts education specialists, Dr. Jones helped implement Music Makes Us, a public/private partnership among MNPS, the mayor’s office, and music leaders. An active clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, Dr. Jones has appeared in 40 of the United States, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore. She has presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. At the request of NAfME, she directed the US Army All-American Band and presented at the National Conference and Collegiate Advocacy Summit. She has presented at the NAMM Foundation's Music Education Days, served as a clinician for Save the Music, and participated in the Yale Symposium on Music in Schools. She adjudicates for WGI Sport of the Arts, Bands of America, and Drum Corps International and serves on the DCI Judge Administration Team. Dr. Jones was state chair for the National Band Association, President of the Eta chapter of Phi Beta Mu, Board Member of the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, and Board Member of the TN Performing Arts Center. Dr. Jones received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mississippi State University, a Master of Music Education degree from Mississippi College, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of South Carolina.
Dru Davison - Biographical Information
Dru Davison is a music program leader for Shelby County Schools (Memphis, TN) and is an active researcher in areas of creative leadership, education policy, and program development. Dr. Davison recently served as project chair for the Tennessee State Board of Education’s Standards Revisions for Arts Education and has consulted for the United States Department of Education Reform Support Network, the Insight Education Group, and Tennessee Department of Education. He is active with the National Association for Music Education with past service as chair of the NAfME Council of Music Program Leaders, where he oversaw the revisions of Opportunity-to-Learn Standards for Music Instruction. Prior to administration, Davison taught instrumental music in rural and urban areas, was an adjunct jazz and saxophone instructor at Arkansas State University, was a teaching fellow at the University of North Texas, where he received a Ph.D. in Music Education. Dru recently developed a course in Creative Leadership for Lee University in Cleveland, TN., and he is active as a freelance saxophonist in the Memphis area.
Jager Loyde - Biographical Information
Mr. Nolan Jager Loyde received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas and his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Fine
Arts over Instrumental Music in Round Rock ISD and previously served as Director of Bands for Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock ISD. Throughout his educational career, bands and orchestras under Mr. Loyde’s direction have received consistent superior ratings in University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight Reading Evaluations. Complementary to these achievements, the Sudler Shield nominated programs under his direction have been consistently successful in marching events including Bands of America Regionals and University
Interscholastic League State Competitions. Mr. Loyde continues his professional impact by serving as a nationally recognized
adjudicator and clinician. Most recently, he has been selected as a staff member for the Bands of America Honor Band in the 2022 Rose Parade.
Thomas Turpin - Biographical Information
Thomas Turpin is currently the Director of Bands at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands, he served as both Associate and Assistant Director at Westwood. During his time at Westwood, Mr. Turpin has taught all four concert ensembles, and all three symphony orchestras, leading each group to consistent UIL Sweepstakes ratings in Concert and Sightreading Evaluations. Mr. Turpin has also served as the Marching Band Director for the Westwood Warrior Marching Band. Before coming to Westwood, Mr. Turpin served as Assistant Director of Bands at John Paul Stevens High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he coordinated the marching band program and co-conducted all four concert ensembles and the Jazz Band. Mr. Turpin is a proud native of Alabama, having grown up there, where he attended Athens High School and The University of Alabama for his secondary education. During his time at the University of Alabama, he served as Section Leader, Drum Major, and Graduate Teaching Assistant of the “Million Dollar Band.” He also played French horn in the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. Mr. Turpin was also a member of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 and 2005. Mr. Turpin is an active drill designer for marching organizations across the United States, an ensemble clinician, and a leadership consultant. His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu.
Ollie Liddell - Biographical Information
Dr. Ollie Liddell received his Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University and his Master of Music Degree and his PhD in Music Education from the University of Mississippi. After teaching in Mississippi and at East High School in Memphis, TN, Dr. Liddell became Director of Bands at Memphis Central High School. Under his leadership, the Central Band has achieved national acclaim, receives consistent all superior ratings and has had dozens of students selected for All State. Dr. Liddell has been named a GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Quarter Finalist and Semifinalist and a Minority Scholar Fellowship recipient at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Liddell serves on the Shelby County Schools Fine Arts Leadership Council, President of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, and a Peer Reviewer for the Tennessee Department of Education Student Growth Measures System. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Gamma Beta Phi Graduate Honors Societies. He is past president of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association and is the State Jazz Policy Chair for the Tennessee Music Education Association. Liddell holds membership in the Tennessee Bandmaster’s Association, National Association for Music Education, American School Band Directors Association, and Pi Alpha Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
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