Music educators can sometimes avoid teaching improvisation due to a perceived "expertise gap." This clinic demonstrates how to foster improvisational growth by leading from the section rather than the podium. By adopting a "co-learning" model, directors practice alongside students to bridge the gap between "imposter" and "improviser." This session provides multiple tools for all ensembles to establish a rehearsal culture where improvisation is a shared and accessible journey.
Wes Parker
- Biographical Information
Dr. Wes Parker has served as the Director of Jazz Studies at North Carolina State University since 2006. Under his direction, Jazz at NC State has grown to include three big bands and four jazz combos and has recorded three studio albums over the last decade. In December 2022, the NC State Jazz Orchestra was invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic, marking the first time a collegiate ensemble from North Carolina has represented the state in the history of the conference. Throughout his tenure at NC State, the jazz program has hosted numerous jazz luminaries, including Bobby Shew, Wayne Bergeron, Terell Stafford, Jeff Coffin, Jiggs Whigham, and Bryan Carter.
Dr. Parker maintains an active career as a freelance trombonist where he has shared the stage with legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Idina Menzel, Placido Domingo, Branford Marsalis, Michael Feinstein, Josh Groban, the Temptations, and has performed with the Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller Orchestras. He is a regular member of the North Carolina Opera and Carolina Ballet Orchestras, as well as the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle. He is also a permanent member of the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra.
A recipient of the NC State Outstanding Teacher Award and the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence, Dr. Parker is a frequent clinician and guest conductor for All-State and All-Region honor bands. He holds a degree in Music Education from Tennessee Tech University, and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trombone Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi.
Rebecca Clemens is the Director of Bands at Margaret B. Pollard Middle School in Chatham County, North Carolina, where she leads a comprehensive program of concert, jazz, and athletic bands. A frequent clinician and guest conductor, her ensembles have been featured at the North Carolina Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference. Ms. Clemens serves as the chair of the NCMEA Central Region Jazz Division and holds faculty positions at Meredith College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She maintains an active performing career on both modern and historical trombones.