Dvorak, Thomas : University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Thomas Dvorak is Professor of Music and Director of University Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a position he has held since 1979. A native of Wisconsin, he is a product of Wisconsin University Education. As Director of Bands, he guides all aspects of the band program, including the graduate conducting program. Since 1979, he has appeared with the UWM Bands throughout the United States, including the 1981 MENC Conference in Minneapolis, the 1981, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1999 Wisconsin Music Educators Conference, in 1983 for the 22nd Annual meeting of the College Band Directors National Association in Atlanta, two performances at the North Central Divisional Meeting of the College Band Directors National Association, the first in 1991 at Michigan State University, and the second at the University of Nebraska in 1994, and two appearances for the Wisconsin National Band Association's Conventions, the first in 1997 in Stevens Point and the second in 1999 in La Crosse. He has brought such distinguished composers as Joseph Schwantner, H. Owen Reed, Karel Husa, Samuel Adler, David Amram, Warren Benson, Fisher Tull, Anthony Iannaccone, David Holsinger, and Martin Mailman to the UWM campus, and along with his students, received warm praises for performances of their compositions.

He began his university teaching career in 1974 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as Assistant Professor of Music and conductor of the University Youth Wind Ensemble. He has received numerous awards including the "Outstanding Secondary Educator of America" in 1974, and has five times been presented the "Citation of Excellence" by the National Band Association for his achievements and contributions to bands. He continues an active involvement with younger-aged high school musicians, having served as Music Director of the University of Michigan Youth Wind Ensemble (1974-77); presently as conductor of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Wind Ensemble Program, and as director of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble Program, a program he founded in 1983. He led the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble in performances at the 1990 Minneapolis meeting of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association and for the National Band Associations 8th and 9th Biennial Conventions at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in 1990 and 1992.

Professor Dvorak maintains an active guest conducting and lecturing schedule throughout the nation and abroad, having appeared at universities, various All-State Bands and Inter-Collegiate Bands in the United States, England, Belgium, France, Japan, Canada, and Australia. His biography is listed in the International "Who's Who in Music" and "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" as well as many articles concerning repertoire, composers and conducting. He is the principal author of a repertoire series for school bands entitled "Best Music for Beginning Bands, Best Music for Young Bands, and Best Music for High School Bands/Wind Ensembles" published by Manhattan Beach Music, NY. He is co-editor/ author of "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, Volume IV" published by GIA Publications, Chicago. He is active in various professional associations including NBA, WASBE and CBDNA. Within NBA, he has served on the Executive Board as Representative-at Large and for 12 years as Chairman of the Band Composition Contest. He is past President of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association (1990-1992) and past 2nd Vice President of the National Band Association (1990-1992).

In January 1994, he became the first American conductor to conduct at the University of Laucenston's -Summer Music School in Laucenston, Tasmania. During the same period, he led the Conducting Symposium for the Australian Band and Orchestra Association in Melbourne, Australia. In the summer of 1996, he led the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Symphony Band/Wind Ensemble in a concert tour of Australia and Hawaii including a performance for the Australia Band and Orchestra Association's National Convention held in Melbourne.

Finally, Professor Dvorak is active in wind ensemble and band recording projects with his university ensembles. Through this venture, he has recorded the repertoire accompanying the "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, Volume IV;" with UWM Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble as well as a series entitled "Classics for Wind Ensemble/Symphony Band" and Volumes I, II and III.

Blocher, Larry R. : Wichita State University

Dr. Larry R. Blocher is the Professor of Music, Associate Director of the School of Music, Associate Director of Bands, and Director of Music Education at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. At Wichita State, Dr. Blocher conducts the concert band, teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses, and coordinates the music education program. He received his BME and MM (music education and performance) degrees from Morehead State University in Kentucky, and his Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University. His teaching background includes university teaching as Assistant Director of Bands and Coordinator of Music Education at Morehead State University, Chair of Music Education at Syracuse University in New York, and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Dayton in Ohio, He has also done public-school teaching as a band director in Kentucky and Florida.

Dr. Blocher is President-elect of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, a member of the National Band Association School Reform Committee, and a member of the Editorial Committee for the Music Educators Journal (MEJ). He is active as a guest clinician/conductor/adjudicator and has presented clinic/research sessions at international, national, regional, and state conferences in the area of instrumental music teacher preparation.

Ramsey, Darhyl S. : University of North Texas

Dr. Darhyl S. Ramsey is in his fourteenth year as a professor of music at the University of North Texas. He teaches instrumental methods and numerous graduate courses. He administers the Master of Music Education program and is chair of numerous dissertations. His Bachelor of Music degree is from Carson-Newman College. His Masters and Ph.D. in Music Education are from University of Iowa. His teaching experiences include public school in Virginia; university teaching at Pennsylvania State University, where he was the Assistant Director of the Penn State Blue Band; and teaching at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Dr. Ramsey has written numerous articles and done presentations throughout the country, as well as several international conferences. He has done numerous band adjudications in Texas and throughout the country. He is a member of MENC, TMEA, and Kappa Kappa Psi, and he currently serves as the National President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.

Wilder, Marguerite :

Emmons, Scott :

Pearson, Bruce :

This book is the first comprehensive attempt to identify and analyze the most significant works for band ever published at the Grade 1 level.

Building on the success of the best-selling Teaching Music through Performance in Band series, this book includes analyses of fifty-three Grade 1 works, breaking each piece down into Entry Level, Intermediate Level, and Advanced Level repertoire categories.

Each analysis includes information about the composer, the composition, historical background, technical requirements, stylistic considerations, form and structure, and suggested recordings and references. A high-quality recording of these works is available separately from the publisher.

In addition, six world leaders in beginning band education-Thomas Dvorak, Larry Blocher, Scott Emmons, Bruce Pearson, Darhyl S. Ramsey, and Marguerite Wilder-come together to provide compelling insights on the critical issues facing early band conductors today, including teaching philosophies, establishing goals and objectives, recruitment, the rehearsal, technology, and selecting good music.

Compiled and edited by Richard Miles and Thomas Dvorak, Teaching Music through Performance in Beginning Band is the first significant resource of its kind and an invaluable contribution to the field.