Instrument testing can be chaotic, time-consuming, and overwhelming. This clinic presents a streamlined, repeatable process for instrument placement that prioritizes efficiency, equity, and data-based decision making. Take control of instrumentation decisions without the pressure of long lines, negotiations, or limited parent turnout. Attendees will walk away with a ready-to-use, data-driven system that saves time, reduces stress, and helps build balanced beginner bands more efficiently.
David Alesco
- Biographical Information
David Alesco is a conductor and music educator from Houston, Texas. He has over a decade of experience teaching in Title I schools, the past six years of which he served as Head Band Director at Null Middle School in Sheldon ISD. As department chair, his data-driven approach has been instrumental in working with campus and district administration to optimize master-scheduling for band across a variety of bell schedules, and he has presented these strategies at the Texas Music Educators Association conference.
His varsity and non-varsity ensembles have earned first divisions at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation. David concurrently served as Artistic Director and conductor of the Houston Pride Band for seven seasons. Earlier this year, he conducted the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" and was a Conducting Fellow in the 2024 Midwest Clinic Reynolds Institute.
David is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant pursuing his Doctorate in Wind Conducting at the UMKC Conservatory, where he studies with Steve Davis. He earned his Master's in Music Education at the University of North Texas, Bachelor of Music Education at Michigan State University, and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Texas A&M University.
Ronnie Ross is in his 20th year as a Texas band director and currently serves as Director of Bands at Central Middle School in Galveston ISD on Galveston Island, Texas. His teaching career spans a variety of educational settings, beginning with nine years in Hudson ISD, a small-school band program in East Texas, followed by eight years in Sheldon ISD in East Houston, where he taught at C. E. King High School (6A) and Null Middle School. He also served as an Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Stephen F. Austin State University for two years. While teaching at Null Middle School, Ronnie collaborated with colleague David Alesco (Lea) to develop a data-driven beginner instrument placement process designed to help directors balance instrumentation, streamline placement decisions, and improve student success. The process continues to evolve and has been successfully implemented across multiple campuses and districts. Now in his third year at Central Middle School, Ronnie works closely with colleagues in the Galveston ISD band vertical team to support student growth and program development. His professional interests include beginner band pedagogy, recruitment and retention, data-informed decision making, and practical solutions that help music educators make the most of their time and resources. Ronnie and his wife, Katelyn, are the proud parents of Savannah and Ronald.