About the Authors

John Denis has several years of experience working with Texas students at the public school and college level.  Dr. Denis creates and produces Program Notes: The Band Director Podcast, a program designed to help preservice and in-service directors find success in their own classrooms.  He has been active as a clinician in Texas and his writing has been featured in publications such as Update: Applications of Research in Music Education; The Journal of Music, Technology, and Education; Contributions to Music Education; and The Southwestern Musician.  He has also presented at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention, the Midwest Clinic, California All-State Music Education Conference, Maryland Music Educators February Conference, the NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference, ISME World Conference, the 11^th International Research in Music Education Conference, the AERA Annual Meeting, and the NAfME Teacher In-service Conference.

 

Dr. Denis has degrees in music education from Texas Tech University and the University of North Texas and is currently on the faculty at Texas State University, where he teaches upper-level music education courses, completes music education scholarly work, and presents at conferences.  He currently lives in the Austin area with his amazing wife Min Shien.

Jordan Stern is a lecturer on the music education faculty of the Texas State University School of Music. His responsibilities include teaching methods courses, teaching a course on arranging for concert band, instructing the Bobcat Marching Band drumline, and supervising student teachers. He has presented at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention, the Midwest Clinic, and the International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education. In addition to his duties at Texas State, Jordan is an active arranger, clinician, and adjudicator for both marching and concert bands. Jordan previously worked as an Associate Band Director at Claudia Taylor Johnson and William Brennan High Schools, and has served on the instructional staff of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps.  Jordan received bachelor’s degrees from Texas State University in percussion performance and music studies with teacher certification, as well as a master’s degree in music education, and is currently completing course work toward a doctoral degree in music education at Boston University. He currently lives in San Antonio with his wife Sigrid and daughter Gillian.