3:00PM-4:00PM
Sun, July 25, 2004
Developing Successful Middle School Bands Through Daily Ensemble Drill
Ensemble Drill: Proven concepts, techniques and exercises used by this panel of successful Fort Bend I.S.D. band directors in developing beginner, intermediate, and advanced bands.
Bethann Adams
Bethann Adams
Bethann Adams is in her nineteenth year as Director of Bands at First Colony Middle School and her twenty-third year of teaching band in the Fort Bend ISD. Ms. Adams received her Bachelor of Music Education from Houston Baptist University where she studied French horn and conducting.
Bands under Ms. Adams direction have consistently received superior ratings at Texas UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contests, as well as other contests and festivals in the state of Texas. In 2002, the First Colony Middle School Honors Band was selected as a finalist in the Texas CCC Honor Band competition. The band also performed at the Midwest Clinic in 2002 and received the most prestigious Sudler Silver Cup. The First Colony Middle School Symphony performed at the Midwest Clinic in 1997 under the direction of Ms. Adams and colleague Connie Brouillette. Ms. Adams' responsibilities include coordinating the band department, teaching beginning brass classes, assisting with the Symphonic Band and conducting the Honors Band.
In addition to her responsibilities at First Colony, Ms. Adams served as Region XVII Middle School Band Chairperson for twelve years. She also serves as an adjudicator and clinician in Texas. Her professional affiliations include TBA, TMEA, TMAA, NBA, Women Band Directors International, and Sigma Alpha Iota.
Greg Countryman
Greg Countryman
Greg Countryman is beginning his fourth year as Director of Bands at Fort Settlement Middle School in the Fort Bend ISD. During the inaugural year of the school, the FSMS Band was a state finalist in the TMEA Honor Band Competition. Prior to opening Fort Settlement Middle School, Countryman was Director of Bands at Quail Valley Middle School where the band was chosen to perform at the 2000 Midwest Clinic in Chicago and also selected as the 2001 Texas Music Educators Association CCC Honor Band for the state of Texas. Bands under his direction have consistently received superior ratings at the annual UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest and they have also been selected "Best in Class" at the Spring/Splashtown Band Contest and the Director's Choice Festival held in The Woodlands.
Mr. Countryman received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University where he studied with Frank Wickes and his Master of Music Education degree from the University of Houston where he studied with Eddie Green. He is a recipient of the TMEA Leadership and Achievement Award and the NBA Citation of Excellence. He is an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the state of Texas and is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, TMAA, TBA, and TMEA.
Joe Pruitt
Joe Pruitt
Joe Pruitt is a native of Quanah, Texas where he was under the direction of retired director James Streit. Pruitt holds both a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Arts degrees from West Texas A&M University, formerly West Texas State University. While attending West Texas, he had the privilege of studying with Dr. Gary Garner. Since moving to the Houston area, Joe has taken the opportunity to learn from Eddie Green, retired University of Houston Director of Bands, and Tom Bennett, the Director of Bands at the University of Houston.
Pruitt is beginning his 21st year of teaching and 13th year in Fort Bend ISD. He is currently the Director of Bands at Dulles High School. Joe has performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago with the Dulles Middle School Honor Band (1998) and Symphony Orchestra (2000) and, most recently, with the Dulles High School Symphony Orchestra (2004). In 2004, he also traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he served as guest conductor for the Mont’ Kiara Music Festival. Under his direction, bands have received superior awards at various music festivals and the Texas UIL Concert/Sight-reading contest. Pruitt is an active adjudicator and clinician.
Mr. Pruitt is a member of Texas Bandmasters’ Association, Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Adjudicators’ Association and the Texas Music Educators’ Association.
