This presentation will focus on best practices for producing a great sound from day one. We’ll discuss method books, the quickest and easiest way to form an embouchure, as well as tips and tricks to produce a steady and consistent sound. This is a great session for younger teachers as well as veteran teachers that might find themselves teaching beginners for the first time.
Mark Bligh
- Biographical Information
Mark Bligh is the newly appointed (July 2026) Director of Fine and Performing Arts for the Herricks School District, where he leads and supports arts education across the district. Prior to this role, he served for 17 years as Director of the 4th and 5th Grade Band at Denton Avenue (Herricks UFSD, New Hyde Park, NY), where he taught winds, brass, and percussion to students in grades 3–5. The Denton Avenue Band regularly participated in NYSSMA Majors, consistently earning Gold and Gold with Distinction ratings on both level 1 and level 2 programs. In 2025, the ensemble was honored with an invitation to perform at the NAfME All-Eastern Division Conference in Hartford, CT. Mark earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education with Honors from the Esther Boyer College of Music at Temple University and a Master of Arts from Stony Brook University. Currently, Mark is finishing his SBL/SDL certificate through SUNY Plattsburgh. He has been published in Scholastic for his contributions to the article “10 Best Musical Apps for Kids.” An active clinician, he has presented at the Balanced Mind Conference, NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, NY, CMEA In-Service Conference in Hartford, CT and The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL. As a guest conductor, Mark has led the winds, brass, and percussion sectional for the NYSSMA All-State Symphonic Orchestra, conducting works by Wagner, Rimsky-Korsakov, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. Other guest conducting appearances include the SCMEA Division 1 Central All-County Band (2018), WCSMA All-County Elementary Band (2019), SCMEA Division 1 East All-County Band (2023), and the SJBODA All-South Jersey Elementary Honor Band (2026). He also served as a product tester for D’Addario during the development of their synthetic reed, Venn. An active performer, Mark is a member of the Long Island Wind Ensemble and has previously performed with the Atlantic Wind Symphony, Northwinds Symphonic Band, and several chamber ensembles. His private saxophone students have been selected for All-County and All-State ensembles throughout New York. Beyond the school year, Mark is the founding conductor of the “Youth Band East” which is part of Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts (www.nassausuffolk.org) which offers performing opportunities for students across Long Island from grades 5–12. Our inaugural season will be Fall of 2026. Mark was formerly the Music Department Chair at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, where he oversaw curriculum, faculty, and students, and also served as Director of Junior Bands. Mark resides in Holbrook, NY with his wife Marcie and their beautiful children, Penelope and David.