This workshop is for music educators at all levels, from small classroom instruction to music production programs or touring music ensembles. The benefits of knowing what comprises quality audio, how to maximize the quality of the sound systems you use, and how to utilize music production in your music program are universal for all music educators. The hands-on opportunity provides the experience to learn about audio and how to use music/audio technology in your classrooms.
1:00 - 2:00 PM: Session 1 - Teaching Intonation with Technology
Presented by Robby Burns
Learn how to teach your students to play in tune by taking advantage of the features of hardware and software like the Yamaha Harmony Director and the Tonal Energy tuning app. This session details a comprehensive methodology for teaching your students how to play in tune using their ears, not their eyes. The session will overview the primary features of these technologies as they relate to playing with a beautiful tone and intonation. Features include: single and polyphonic tuning drones, modeling just intonation in chords and melody, visualizing pitch, and more!
2:00 - 3:00 PM: Session 2 - Microphone Basics for Music Educators
Presented by Yuri Lysoivanov
Learn from the experts at Shure about the various types and qualities of microphones, how to select a mic that matches your needs and purposes, and some tips for using mics for live performance, recording, and in your classroom.
3:00 - 4:00 PM: Session 3 - Teaching Intonation with Technology
Presented by Robby Burns
Learn how to teach your students to play in tune by taking advantage of the features of hardware and software like the Yamaha Harmony Director and the Tonal Energy tuning app. This session details a comprehensive methodology for teaching your students how to play in tune using their ears, not their eyes. The session will overview the primary features of these technologies as they relate to playing with a beautiful tone and intonation. Features include: single and polyphonic tuning drones, modeling just intonation in chords and melody, visualizing pitch, and more!
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Session 4 - Record with Confidence: An Introduction to Recording Your Ensemble
Presented by Scott Probst and Robby Burns
High-quality recordings are increasingly important for assessment, recruitment, auditions, and sharing student performances. In this session, music educator Robby Burns and professional audio engineer Scott Probst will introduce the recording principles every music educator should know. Through real-world examples, participants will learn recording best practices, effective microphone techniques, and how to listen critically like an audio engineer to achieve more accurate and engaging ensemble recordings.
Clinicians
Robby Burns is a music educator, freelance percussionist, and technology specialist residing in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Robby's teaching experience ranges from elementary school through university ensembles. He is currently an employee of the Howard County Public School System where he teaches band and general music at Ellicott Mills Middle School and has directed the HCPSS Middle School GT Honor Band.
Robby maintains a thriving private percussion teaching studio out of his home with students who have gone on to pursue music degrees, perform professionally, enter varying roles in the music industry, and participate in state and district honor ensembles. He is frequently invited to serve as an adjudicator, arranger, and clinician for schools and music organizations throughout the region.
Robby is the recipient of the 2025 Mike Kovins Technology in Music Education (TI:ME) Teacher of the Year award.
Robby has presented sessions at music education conferences all over the country on the subjects of band and orchestra directing, music production tools, productivity software, and their connection to creativity in the music classroom. Robby's first book, Digital Organization Tips for Music Teachers, published by Oxford University Press, is available now. He writes and speaks about music, education, and technology on his blog and podcast, Music Ed Tech Talk.
As a freelance percussionist, Robby is comfortable with all styles, specifically including orchestral, musical theater, opera, chamber, rock, and jazz. He has performed with the Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, Opera Camerata of Washington, D.C., and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under such conductors as Marin Alsop and Lorin Maazel. Robby has also worked with a variety of local music projects including rock cello quartet, Primitivity and nine-piece funk band, The Superland Stage Band.
Robby holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he studied orchestral percussion with Tony Ames (NSO) and timpani with John Tafoya and Benjamin Ramirez (both former NSO). He has also benefited from the instruction of Steve Fidyk (Army Blues Band) and Janis Potter (solo marimba artist). During his time at UMD he also devoted attention toward orchestration, theory, conducting, and jazz arranging.
Robby is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Percussive Arts Society, the Maryland Music Educators Association, and TI:ME, the national organization for Technology in Music Education.
He serves as a Member-at-Large on the TI:ME Board of Directors and as Technology Chair for the Maryland Music Educators Association’s Executive Board.
Yuri Lysoivanov is a Chicago-based audio engineer and educator who is thrilled to be sharing his knowledge as a product expert at Shure. His exciting career takes him across the country to share his expertise, while also regularly working with musicians and influencers to raise awareness of Shure products and audio engineering concepts. As a music recording professional, Yuri specializes in acoustic instruments, singer/songwriters and classical ensembles. His recent recording work includes the American Composers Orchestra, Joshua Bell, Artemisia Trio, Black Moon Trio, Fifth House Ensemble, Kontras Quartet, and many others.
Prior to joining Shure, Yuri was the Chair of the Recording Arts Department at Flashpoint Chicago for over a decade, teaching and mentoring the next generation of recording professionals. Yuri has a Bachelor of Music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and a Master of Engineering in Acoustics from Penn State University.
Scott Probst is a recording engineer specializing in live concert and location recording. His passion for audio began in high school and led him to earn an Associate's degree in Commercial Music with an emphasis in Audio Engineering from McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.
For decades, Scott has worked with school music programs, universities, and honor ensembles throughout Texas, helping students and educators preserve and showcase their performances through professional-quality recordings. His clients include Texas Christian University, East Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Music Educators Association, the Association of Texas Small School Bands, University Interscholastic League, the Texas Boys Choir, Singing Girls of Texas, and numerous public middle and high schools.
In addition to his work in education, Scott has recorded many of the region's premier performing organizations, including The Lone Star Wind Orchestra, Dallas Winds, Metropolitan Winds, the Cliburn Amateur and Junior Amateur International Piano Competitions, and the Mimir Chamber Music Festival.
Scott specializes in recording orchestras, wind ensembles, choirs, sacred music, chamber ensembles, and big band jazz. His passion is creating recordings that accurately capture both the musical excellence and educational achievements of the performers, providing students and directors with recordings that document years of dedication and artistry.
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