It has been quite some time since I have been able to post to this blog–apologies to all who follow it. Within 24 hours of the conclusion of the final George N Parks Drum Major Academy® workshop I am back in Delaware writing ’round the clock because band camp with the UDMB is less than 2 weeks away. Needless to say, every minute counts in August……
….but let me be truly honest: during the fall semester being a college band director tends to interfere with my role at DMA. 🙂
But of course, none of this matters to anyone out there who is reading this–and it shouldn’t! You’ve got more important things to be wondering about, such as what’s in store for DMA during the summer of 2014? Well, let’s get at it because there is an ENORMOUS amount to tell you!
DR. TIM LAUTZENHEISER is scheduled to join us at not 1, not 2, but FOUR locations this summer! We are honored and thrilled that Dr. Tim endorses DMA and finds a way every year to somehow spend more and more time with us.
- EKU in Richmond, Kentucky
- UCF in Orlando, Florida
- TWU in Denton, Texas
- UMASS in Amherst, Massachusetts
I will join him once again, along with Dr. John Villella (Vivace Productions, Inc.), for two 2-day Band Leadership Training workshops as well, one in UNC/Greeley and the other at WCU/Pennsylvania.
NEW LOCATION: Once again, DMA is EXPANDING in an effort to reach more and more students across the country! Last year we added NCC in Naperville, Illinois and we returned to our former home at UCF in Orlando, Florida. Both locations were roaring successes. This year we are excited to announce we will be at Texas A&M International University in Laredo on June 23 -27. We cannot wait to bring DMA to the valley!
Expanding our offerings is always carefully planned and never approached lightly. We only look to add new workshops when we are confident we are able to send our most accomplished and seasoned staff members. If we could not do that at ALL of our locations we fail at our goal of always providing the utmost quality wherever we are. This is our guarantee to YOU, the director and student: no matter which location you send your students or attend we guarantee you will experience the highest quality teaching DMA has to offer!
DMA 2013 SUMMARY: In short, the summer of 2013 was the most successful series of workshops in recent years! Enrollment was at it’s highest in over a decade. I cannot begin to thank the directors enough for their continued trust in and loyalty to our program. Every year the staff sits and discusses how to continue improving, continue evolving, continue developing clearer understandings and approaches to what we believe is critical for young leaders to know in order to be successful as drum majors and section leaders. All of this is done without changing the underlying principles and philosophies established by George Parks. George not only made adjustments and improvements to his approaches yearly–he did so weekly! The staff and I, music educators and band directors in our own right, draw upon our expertise just as George did. Whatever it takes to ensure the students have an optimum learning experience with the greatest opportunity for success has always been and will continue to be the goal of the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy®.
Wishing all of you a phenomenal conclusion to your fall seasons!
—heidi i. sarver
