The Art of the Start: The Key Elements of Recruiting, Teaching and Inspiring Beginning Band Students
Clinic Synopsis:
Connecting with students to begin playing an instrument is where the magic begins. The Art of the Start highlights the Key Elements of intentional pedagogy and inspiring teaching from day one. Participants will gain practical strategies for purposeful communication, developing key individual and ensemble habits, intentional pacing, and effective use of Key Elements to create positive first musical experiences that build confidence, connection, and excitement for making music.
Charles Menghini
- Biographical Information
Dr. Charles T. Menghini is President Emeritus of VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. Menghini served as Professor of Music and Director of Bands from 1994–2017. Prior to his appointment at VanderCook, he spent 18 years as a high school band director in Missouri and Kansas, where his bands earned national acclaim, performing as such venues as the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Charlie is co-author of the Essential Elements Band Method published by Hal Leonard, serves as an Educational Member of the Music Achievement Council for NAMM, and his podcast Band Talk with Charlie Menghini and Friends is available on Apple podcasts.
Menghini is active as a speaker, clinician, and conductor around the nation. He frequently presents at state and national music education conferences, works with teachers and school districts in a variety of forums, and continues to write for professional magazines and journals.
Erin Cole - Biographical Information
Erin Cole Steele is Director of the Division of Education and Senior Educational Clinician for Conn Selmer Inc. and serves as Clinical Assistant Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Music, Dance, and Theatre. She previously led the band program at Tapp Middle School in Georgia (1995–2017), earning Teacher of the Year honors and guiding the ensemble to national recognition, including a performance at the 58th annual Midwest Clinic.
During her tenure, she commissioned works by Robert W. Smith, Frank Ticheli, Samuel R. Hazo, and Eric Whitacre. She is a contributing editor to Essential Elements for Band and has authored chapters for multiple volumes of Teaching Music Through Performance and Rehearsing the Middle School Band.
An active guest conductor and speaker, Erin has presented at national and international conferences and conducted All-State and honor bands in more than 30 states. She has served on the faculty of the Music for All Summer Symposium and is executive director of The Conn Selmer Institute.
Erin holds a B.M.E. from the University of Georgia. Her professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, Sigma Alpha Iota, and the National Band Association, which awarded her the Citation of Excellence three times. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Tim Lautzenheiser - Biographical Information
Tim Lautzenheiser is a trusted friend to anyone interested in working with young people in developing a desire for excellence. His career involves ten years of band directing at Northern Michigan University, the University of Missouri, and New Mexico State University. 1981, he created Attitude Concepts for Today, an organization designed to manage the many requests for workshops, seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of positive attitude and effective leadership training.
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