In this rehearsal lab, Mr. Gordon will demonstrate rehearsal strategies and concepts with an emphasis on practical pedagogy that you can implement in your ensemble rehearsals as early as tomorrow. The shared strategies are as equally applicable to a group “firing on all pistons” as they are to an ensemble in a rebuilding situation, and while some ideas are “tried and true,” others may open new avenues on ways to help your students better understand their role in music making.
Adrian Gordon
- Biographical Information
Adrian Gordon is an internationally performed composer and seasoned music educator.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Gordon is a composer with Alfred Music as well as the founder of
Leap Year Music Publishing, which publishes string music for elementary, middle, and high
school ensembles. His compositions appear on the California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and
Texas Orchestra Association Music Performance Reading Lists. He is also the author of the book
Note to Self; A Music Director’s Guide for Transitioning to a New School and Building a Thriving
Music Program.
Adrian received his B.A. in music from the University of Miami, and his master’s degree in music
education at Florida International University. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Adrian
currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and their two sons and serves as the
Director of Orchestras at Providence Day School.
Sean Patrick is an Indiana native who is passionate about string music education experience. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Ball State University in 2008 and Master of Education in Teacher Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2014.He is one of four orchestra directors in the Goshen Community Schools District. This is his thirteenth year in this position with responsibilities as the podium director for the Goshen Junior High Orchestras. He also serves in prominent roles for the Goshen High School Orchestras and assists the Goshen Intermediate School string ensembles.Mr. Patrick is very grateful for his professional development opportunities having had wonderful mentors in master music educators like Donna Sevcovic, Barry Ashton, and Susan Ellington. In his teaching, Mr. Patrick dedicates himself to providing high quality, varied, and comprehensive music education to his students, holding high expectations of music performance, encouraging a high level of enrollment in private lessons, placing all students into chamber groups, providing extra-curricular string jazz/fiddle/mariachi ensembles, and integrating music theory and history instruction into the classroom curriculum.Mr. Patrick is a member of the National Association for Music Education, serving as chair of the Indiana Music Education Association Composition Competition and a member of the American String Teachers Association. He is also serves on committees and as an adjudicator for the Indiana State School Music Association