The clinic presents a sequential developmentally aligned approach to brass pedagogy designed for directors teaching in school band settings. Through demonstrations and diagnostic modeling, the presenters will address tone production, breath coordination, articulation, flexibility, range development, and endurance. Emphasis will be placed on identifying root causes of common brass issues and applying efficient corrective strategies that work in heterogeneous ensembles.
Wayne Dillon
- Biographical Information
Wayne Dillon holds a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and Education from York University in Toronto Canada, and a Masters degree in Jazz performance/pedagogy from the University of Miami, Florida.
Wayne is the former Director of Bands at Elizabeth HS in NJ. In 2014 he was awarded the State of New Jersey Governor's Teacher Recognition Award, and was more recently named the NJ outstanding jazz educator for 2021.
For the past 10 years, Wayne has served as an educational clinician for Conn-Selmer in their Education division. He provides clinics on performance, leadership, mindset coaching, rehearsal management and show design. Wayne has conducted clinics in Japan, South America, Canada and the United States.
Wayne currently teaches the jazz band band at Tarpon Springs HS in Florida. The band made the Essentially Ellington Finals this year in NY and will perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center in May.
Wayne currently serves as a music adjudicator for Bands of America, DCI, and is the current Director of the Winds division for WGI.
Wayne is an active trumpet player with the Clearwater Jazz Association. He has played with KC and the Sunshine Band, Al Chez, Jeff Healey, Albert Collins, Jay and the Technics, and the Hamilton Philharmonic.
Matt Harloff holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Indiana University. He earned his masters degree in education from the University of Indianapolis in 2001. He is currently the Director of Bands at Avon HS.
Matt serves as co-conductor of all five bands at Avon HS. The concert band has won the State Concert Band championship three times under Matt's leadership. Harloff led the the Avon Brass choir as a performing ensemble at the 2015 Midwest Clinic. The marching band has won the Bands of America Grand National Championship six times. Matt is a renowned brass instructor with the Carolina Crown, winning the DCI Jim Ott brass trophy 8 times. Matt was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame in 2025.
Matt is proud to be a Yamaha performing artist and clinician.