No Sweat Clarinet: Beginner year non-negotiables!
Clinic Synopsis:
Don’t play clarinet? Don’t sweat it! Kim, Lauren and Ryan will dive into specific fundamental concepts of playing and teaching the clarinet. Attendees will gain insight on proper embouchure formation, tone production, articulation, and hand position. Clinicians will also share tips and tricks as well as important exercises to address common challenges students will encounter as they progress on the instrument. Bring your mouthpiece and barrel to take part in this fun and interactive session!
Ryan Gaughan
- Biographical Information
Ryan Gaughan has been the Director of Bands at Faubion Middle School since 2018. Prior to working in McKinney ISD, he was the assistant band director at Keller Middle School in Keller, Texas starting in 2011. In 2011, Mr. Gaughan earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He also earned a Master of Music Education degree from Southern Methodist university in 2020. He oversees the Faubion School band program, which consists of more than 360 students in grades six through eight. He conducts the Honors Band and assists with the Symphonic Band and Concert Band. He also teaches beginning band classes. Under the direction of Mr. Gaughan, the FMS Honors Band have received unanimous first-division ratings at the Texas UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest, as well as first-division ratings and Best in Class at festivals throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Mr. Gaughan is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. He has presented clinics at TMEA, TBA and the Conn Selmer Education Summit. He serves as the TMEA Region 24 Middle School Band Chair. Mr. Gaughan loves teaching and considers himself to be a lifelong learner. He is grateful to his mentors, colleagues and students because they continue to teach him. Mr. Gaughan lives in the Dallas area, and is honored to have a loving family, many great mentors, band directors, and close friends that have influenced his life thus far.
Kim Garza - Biographical Information
Mrs. Kim Garza is in her 25th year as a music educator in the state of Texas. She holds a Bachelor
of Music Education degree from the University of Texas-RGV. Mrs. Garza is currently the Director
of Bands at Jose M. Lopez Middle School in the North East Independent School District in San
Antonio, TX. The Lopez MS band program is a proud component of the Ronald Reagan High
School Band cluster. Prior to her current position, Mrs. Garza has also held positions in San
Antonio as the Associate Director of Bands at Lopez Middle School, Director of Bands at Alamo
Heights Junior School, Associate Director of Bands at Alamo Heights High School and Associate
Director of Bands at Del Valle High School in Austin, TX.
Mrs. Garzas’ bands have consistently earned “Superior” ratings and “Sweepstakes” awards at
U.I.L. Concert & Sight-Reading evaluations, and have been honor band finalists at the region,
area, and state levels in the TMEA Honor Band contest. Her bands have also repeatedly earned
“Superior,” “Best in Class,” and “Outstanding Overall Band” awards at various music festivals
around the state. Lopez Band students have also consistently earned high numbers of chairs in
the Region XII bands and full orchestras in the San Antonio area. Lopez Band students have also
had the honor of being demonstration groups for various clinics at both the TMEA and TBA
annual conventions.
As an educator, Mrs. Garza was awarded the “Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching” in 2014,
representing Lopez MS and the North East Independent School District.
Mrs. Garza is an active clinician, mentor, adjudicator, and guest conductor for both All-Region
bands, UIL contests and summer university music camps around the state. Professional
affiliations include being a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas
Bandmasters Association organizations.
Mrs. Garza is married to Mr. George Garza, also a band director and active percussion instructor.
She and her husband, George, have 3 boys….Ryan, Jacob, and Riley. Sharing their love of music
together, taking family road trips and vacations, watching live music of all genres, and
supporting their local Spurs are just a few of their favorite things to do as a family.
Mrs. Garza set out to be a band director back in her first year as a sixth grade beginner band
student. Supportive parents, mentors and her faith have led her to living her dream for the last
25 years. Mrs. Garza quotes that her greatest joy in being a music educator is watching her
students grow, not just in their musical journey, but in witnessing the life-long lessons,
disciplines, and leadership skills they take away with them from all they have learned through
music and being part of an organization like band.
Lauren Jones - Biographical Information
Ms. Jones is in her eleventh year of teaching and her seventh year as Director of Bands at Colleyville Middle School. Prior to her current role, she was the Assistant Band Director at Colleyville Middle for four years. Ms. Jones graduated from Texas Christian University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. She continues to be a part of the TCU Band Camp faculty each summer. In May of 2022, Lauren received her Masters in Music Education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Ms. Jones’ responsibilities at CMS include being the primary director of the Honors Band as well as assisting the Symphonic Band. She also teaches sixth grade beginning flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon classes. Since 2017, the CMS Honors Band has been selected as a Class A National and Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors Project. In 2018, the CMS Honors Band was selected to perform at the 72nd Annual Midwest Clinic. In 2019 and 2022, the CMS Honors Band was named the TMEA CC Honor Band Runner Up. Ms. Jones is professionally affiliated with Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association. She has served as the Region 24 and Region 31 Middle School Band Division Treasurer and is currently the Vice Chair for the Middle School Band Division of Region 31. Ms. Jones fell in love with band in middle school and strives to inspire the same passion in her students that she found at their same age. She resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful support system of friends and family.
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