Keller Middle School Wind Ensemble

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Keller Middle School Band is the initial stage of the seven-year Keller Band Program. The program includes beginner band classes, three performing concert ensembles, chamber music ensembles, two jazz bands, and a drumline. In sixth-grade beginner band, students are grouped into homogenous instrument classes that focus on building solid players with proper fundamentals while cultivating a love for music. These beginner classes meet on alternating days. After the beginner year, seventh and eighth-grade students are placed in ability-based ensembles, where the curriculum consists of musical skill-building, developing critical thinking, increasing musical expressiveness, and performing diverse and interesting repertoire. Students attend weekly section rehearsals that focus on fundamentals and music preparation. Students are afforded many performance opportunities throughout the year, such as: formal concerts, band festivals, a chamber music recital, a solo festival, jazz concerts, and other school-wide or community events. Moreover, the program also believes in providing masterclasses and private lesson opportunities with local professional musicians and dynamic music educators in order to inspire students and improve musical skills. The Keller Middle School band program believes in leading young musicians to a deeper connection with music through their commitment to excellence in the performance of varied band literature.

Keller Middle School Wind Ensemble

Conductor's Bio

Jedidiah Maus is entering his eleventh year of teaching and has been the Director of Bands at Keller Middle School and Bear Creek Intermediate since 2013. Prior to working in Keller ISD, he was the assistant band director at Byrd Middle School in Duncanville, Texas. In 2008, Mr. Maus earned both a Bachelor of Music Education degree, and a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. While at SMU, he studied music education under the direction of Lynne Jackson and Brian Merrill, and he studied trumpet with Tom Booth, Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Symphony. He also earned a Master of Music Education degree from SMU in 2014. He oversees the Keller Middle School and Bear Creek Intermediate band programs, including a jazz band and a colorguard, which consist of more than 350 students in grades six through eight. He conducts the Wind Ensemble and assists with the Symphonic Band and Concert Band. He also teaches beginning trumpet, horn, flute and oboe.  Mr. Maus has been fortunate enough to direct bands that have received unanimous first-division ratings at the Texas UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest for his entire career, as well as bands that received first-division ratings and Best in Class at festivals throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Additionally, the Keller Middle School Wind Ensemble earned distinction as a National Wind Band Honors Class AA winner in 2017 and 2018. Mr. Maus is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. He has guest conducted honor groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and is a faculty member at the Sam Houston State University Band Camp.  He has presented clinics at TMEA, TBA and the SHSU Center for Music Education, both alone and alongside his co-workers from Keller ISD. He has previously served as the TMEA Region 20 Middle School Band Coordinator, and TMEA Region 30 Middle School Band Technology Coordinator. Mr. Maus loves teaching and considers himself to be a lifelong learner. He is grateful to his mentors, colleagues and students because they continue to teach him. He draws on his passion for music, quick humor and charisma to motivate his students.  He is thankful for the support of his wife, Jessica, who is a wonderful person, gifted musician, accomplished band director, and an amazing mother to their son. They enjoy spending time together with their son, Liam.