The TN-ASBDA “Young Directors’ Symposium” is a special mentoring project of the TN ASBDA chapter, designed to offer clinic sessions and professional development geared to the younger members of our profession. Experienced members of the TN ASBDA chapter will present clinic sessions on topics that are particularly relevant to newer teachers. The ASBDA Young Directors’ Symposium is open to all band directors, regardless of how long they have taught, as well as to recent college graduates.

Saturday, June 15!

2024 Schedule of Events  – details coming soon!

Freedom Middle School,  1000 Excellence Way  Franklin, TN 37064

 (park in back, gym entrance)

Previous Young Directors’ Symposiums:

2021: Young Directors’ Symposium topics – Thursday, June 10, 2021

• “Team Teaching in the Bandroom: Working Together to Sound Better” -Evan Burton, Carol Strayer, and Katherine Aydelott
• “Helping Them All: Strategies for Individualized Assessment” -Andrew Lynn and Brittany Jerrell
• “Our programs post-COVID; Interactive session with open discussion”  – Marguerite Wilder

2019: Young Directors’ Symposium topics – Thursday, May 30, 2019

• “Student Teaming in the Instrumental Rehearsal” – Susan Waters
• “Strong Foundations for Building Young Percussionists” – David England and John Hearnes
• “Creating Authentic Assessments in Band (and the technology needed to do it)” – Brock Cobb

2018 Young Directors’ Symposium topics – Thursday, May 31, 2018

• “If You Sell It, They Will Come!” How to market your band program for successful recruiting and retention. John Easley
• “Classroom Management from the Podium”  Things you can do – or should NOT do – from the podium to keep students on-task and engaged. – Carole Grooms
• “Band Budgets, IRS, School Financial Procedures and Policies: How to Keep Yourself Out of Jail” -Mark Kinzer

2017 Young Directors’ Symposium topics – Thursday, June 1, 2017

• “An Old Guy’s Guide to Class Preparation” – Jeff Phillips
• “Surviving and Thriving in a Rural School Band Program” – Zack Williamson
• “Emergency Instrumental Repair Clinic” – Linden Lantz

2016 Young Directors’ Symposium topics – Thursday, June 2, 2016

• “How to Buy Low Brass Instruments for Your School” – David Butler
• “On Being and Having an Assistant Director” – Randy Box
• “The TN Revision of the New National Core Arts Standards – What You Need to Know”-Susan Waters

2015 Young Directors’ Symposium topics – Thursday, June 4, 2015

• “Fundraising 101” – Phil McLeod
• “The Do’s and Don’t of Traveling with Students” – Johnny Thomas
• “On-stage concert etiquette – for the director and students” – Susan Waters
• “Organization and Multi-tasking – the Big Picture for band directing”  -June and Roy Holder

2014 Young Directors’ Symposium topics – Thursday, June 5, 2014

• “Literature – getting past the tunes you know” – David Butler
• “Band Finances – How NOT to end up on the nightly news!” – Carole Grooms and Mark Garey
• “Getting Along with Your Administrators” – Alan Hunt