At Music for All, we know that the most influential element in the success of students and music education, in general, is qualified, knowledgeable, and well-prepared teachers. The Music for All Summer Symposium Director Academy is recognized as one of the finest and most comprehensive professional development experiences available. We strive to make it accessible to all directors!
Certificate of Attendance
Music for All will provide a Certificate of Attendance to two-time participants who are percussion instructors and color guard Instructors within the Director Academy. This will certify that a person has attended two years of the Summer Symposium Director Academy.
Music for All will also provide letters verifying attendance for music educators for Professional Development credit purposes (where applicable).
2022 Music for All Summer Symposium
June 27-July 2, 2022
Leadership Weekend:
June 25-27
Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
Director Academy Sessions
View the 2022 schedule of Director Academy sessions, with titles, presenters, and session descriptions.
“Total Program Success” Curriculum
Directors at the Bands of America Summer Symposium will benefit from our world class curriculum for Total Program Success. High school and middle school band directors as well as college students, color guard instructors, and percussion specialists will all learn systems and processes revolving around these core competencies:
- Evaluation
- Visualization
- Prioritization and Organization
- Communication
In addition, sessions will extend to topics such as: the big picture, content-specific pedagogy: score study, conducting, show design, hiring designers, leadership, rehearsal efficiency, time-management, sequencing of content, lesson panning, season-long planning, ethics, SEL, interventions, finances, DEI, drill writing, music arranging, copyright issues, choreography, electronics, and more!
In addition to the core curriculum, directors will have opportunities to “major” in other areas for large periods of time! High School Band, Middle School Band, College Students and New Teachers, Percussion, Color Guard, and Marching & Movement.
2022 Director Academy Faculty
Nola Jones
Bands of America Chief Judge Team
Greg Bimm
Director of Bands, Marian Catholic H.S. (IL)
Matt Black
Associate Director of Bands, Director of Percussion, and Sound Designer at Carmel H.S. (IN)
Patrick Mainieri
Participant Experience Coordinator
Andrew Brough
Band Director at Creekside M.S. (IN)
Adam Bruce
Percussion Specialist for Union Public Schools (OK), marching percussion arranger, adjudicator, clinician, and consultant
Shirley Dorritie
Director of The Center for Performance and Achievement in the San Francisco Bay Area, Author of PERFORMING AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME: Practical Strategies for When It Really Counts
Julie Duty
Founder and Executive Director of United Sound
Gilbert (AZ)
Beth Fabrizio
Music educator, conductor, performer
Dave Gerhart
Assistant Segment Marketing Manager, Education – Yamaha Corporation of America
Chris Grifa
Director of Bands, Clay M.S. (IN)
Susie Harloff
Division Head
Avon H.S. (IN) Marching Band, Director of Avon Cadet Guard
Christy Heber
Basson Studio Instructor (IN)
Wendy Higdon
Band Director and Performing Arts Department Chair at Creekside M.S. (IN)
Fran Kick
Division Head
Leadership Division Head, Music for All Educational Consultant, Speaker, and Author of Kick It In & Take the Lead
Bobby Lambert
Division Head
Director of Bands, Wando H.S., SC, Former Western Carolina University Drum Major
Chelsea Levine
Founder of Seavine and Cymbal Technician for Rhythm X
Tony Lymon
Music Educator, Creative Designer
Kali Marquart
Former Director of Fairfield H.S. (IN), Former Instructor of Penn H.S. (IN), Jenison H.S. (MI), and Rockford H.S. (MI).
Major Ryan Nowlin
Keynote Speaker
United States Marine Corps
John Phillips
Adjunct Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, Bands of America Chief Judge Team
Gretta Pote
Director of Bands, Carmel H.S. (IN), Yamaha Master Educator
Mike Pote
Director of Bands, Carmel H.S. (IN), Yamaha Master Educator
Michael Raiford
Scenic and Costume Design, Show Creation
Bradley Rivera
Jeff Sacktig
Carolina Crown Visual Designer
Richard Saucedo
Music for All Educational Consultant, Bands of America Chief Judge Team
Derek Smith
Interplay Winter Guard, Jenison H.S. (MI)
Robert W. Smith
Composer, President and CEO of RWS Music Company, Coordinator of the Music Industry Program at Troy State University, AL
Susan L. Smith
Lecturer in Music Education, Troy State University, AL; NAfME Southern Division President-Elect
Clif Walker
Designer and Front Ensemble Arranger with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Director of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City Percussion, University of Missouri Marching Mizzou Drumline
Ja'Malh Wallace
Onyx Color Guard, Northmont H.S. (OH), Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps
Alfred Watkins
Director of Bands, Lassiter H.S., GA (retired); Co-Founder, Musical Director, and Conductor, Cobb Wind Symphony
Amanda Watson
Jon Weber
Division Head
Instructor of Percussion at Michigan State University
Jeff Young
Division Head
Music for All Director of Camps
President/CEO of Dynamic Marching
2022 Carolina Crown Faculty at the Director Academy
Jim Coates
Executive Director, CEO
Thom Hannum
Percussion Director & Arranger
Michael Klesch
Music Director & Arranger
Andrew Monteiro
Sound Designer
What will you learn?
View a sample of the 2019 Director Academy sessions
Director Academy Concert Band
Scholarships for the 2022 Percussion Specialist Academy
Areas of Study in the Directors’ Academy at America’s Camp
High School & Middle School Directors
The “Nuts and Bolts” aspect of the curriculum will deal with the fundamentals of teaching 6th graders in a middle school setting. In a nutshell, we will fill the gap to teach you what you didn’t learn in college!
College Music Educator Majors and New Teachers
Through a progressive curriculum, newer teachers and college students will come alive at the Summer Symposium! We will provide a “hands-on” education that will prepare young teachers to thrive, not just survive!
Percussion Specialists
Music for All offers tools that will allow you to achieve peak performance personally and for your ensembles. Hone your craft by working with some of the current rock stars of the marching percussion world.
Marching & Movement Instructors
Learn up-to-date, cutting-edge techniques to teach students the fundamentals of marching and body movement.
Color Guard Instructor Academy
Also known as the CGIA, the Color Guard Instructor Academy curriculum will take you to a higher level in your teaching of dance, flag, and weapon.
What are directors saying about the Directors’ Academy at America’s Camp?
Summer Symposium has allowed us to take our band program to a new level.
Practical hands-on knowledge and experiences that you can use in your classroom!
The Summer Symposium is a great experience, with quality educators!