TURN DOWN THE VOLUME!!! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Use of Sound Enhancement in Contemporary Marching Band
Clinic Synopsis:
Marching band has evolved into a rich multimedia performance medium where acoustic musicians, visual design, and electronic enhancement coexist. Electronics and amplification can expand artistic possibilities and improve clarity, but their role should be to support student achievement, not replace it. Discover how amplification and electronics can enhance artistic expression while presenting unique design and instructional challenges.
John Phillips
- Biographical Information
In demand as a clinician and
consultant, John Phillips shares his unique brand of music education through
workshops with State and Provincial Music Educators’ Associations, NAfME, and
as a presenter at the Midwest Clinic. Phillips
recently retired from the University of Western Ontario, where he conducted the
Symphonic Band and taught conducting and music education courses. He also
served on the faculties of the University of Toronto and York University. More
recently, he was an Adjunct Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and
served as Artistic Coordinator for the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. Throughout
his career, he has participated in numerous initiatives with Music for All, including the National Concert Festival, Summer Symposium, and BOA Grand Nationals.
He is an MFA Educational Consultant and BOA judge administration team member. Known
for leadership in contemporary music education philosophy and pedagogy,
Phillips’ endeavors in this area include: Coordinator of the Arts curriculum-Ontario
Ministry of Education; Producer-Learning Through the Arts Video Series;
Principal-Music Teacher In-Service Programs at the Ont. Institute for Studies
in Education; Music Course Manager-Ont. Educational Leadership Center; Board of
Directors - OMEA & OBA. Phillips served as Judge Administrator for Drum
Corps International for 25 years. In recognition of his contributions to the
activity, he was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame in 2015 and received the
Legacy Impact Award in 2025. Phillips is
a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician.
Richard Saucedo - Biographical Information
Richard L. Saucedo (Carmel, IN) retired in 2013 as the Director of Bands and Chairman of the Performing Arts Department at the William H. Duke Center for the Performing Arts at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. During his 31- year tenure, the Carmel bands earned numerous state, regional, and national honors in concert band, jazz band, and marching band categories. Under his leadership, Carmel’s Wind Symphony I performed three times at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival (1992, 1999, and 2004) and was named the Indiana State Champion Concert Band. The group also showcased its talents at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in December 2005. The Carmel Marching Greyhounds finished in the top ten at the Bands of America Grand National Championship for 17 years under Saucedo’s leadership. He was inducted into the Music for All “Hall of Fame” in 2015 and most recently joined the Drum Corps International “Hall of Fame” in 2022. Saucedo is a freelance arranger and composer who produces numerous arrangements for marching bands, choral works, concert band pieces, and orchestral works. He also serves as the music ensemble coordinator for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. From 1999 to 2008, he was the Brass Arranger and Composer for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Saucedo also works as a Senior Educational Consultant for Music for All and Bands of America. Additionally, he is the Chief Judge Team Leader for Bands of America marching band competitions.
Nola Jones - Biographical Information
Nola Jones is a lifelong music educator who is a devoted and effective leader in arts education. She currently serves on the Chief Judge Team for Bands of America and is the Division Coordinator for the Director Academy at the BOA Summer Camp. In addition to extensive ensemble and classroom teaching experience, Jones possesses broad skills in leadership development, program design and implementation, curriculum writing, development, advocacy, and partnership building.
Jones maintains an active schedule as a guest speaker, conductor, adjudicator, clinician, and program evaluator. She has appeared in 43 of the United States and internationally in Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore. She was the Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Music Education Association and the DCI Judge Administration Team. She has been a featured presenter for The Midwest Clinic, NAMM Music Education Days, NAfME, and Save the Music Foundation. She was on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and served on the Education Advisory Board of the First Center for Visual Arts. In 2024, she was inducted into the Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame; and in 2025, she was inducted into the Music for All Hall of Fame.
Jones received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mississippi State University and a Master of Music Education degree from Mississippi College. She received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of South Carolina.
Back