Episode 45 - Sean Smith

Jan 15, 2018

Sean Smith is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois and a recent graduate of that program. Sean recounts his experiences at his first job, describes the transition from high school teacher to graduate student, and shares his opinion about the larger issues facing music education.

Topics:

• Sean’s experience as a young band director learning the ropes in Conneaut, Ohio, including both his best decision and his worst decision in his first year on the job.
• The decision to leave his position as a high school band director and return to school to pursue a master and doctorate.
• The history and importance of the University of Illinois band program and its influence on the college band tradition.
• The University of Illinois Band Podcast.

Links:

• Sean Smith
• The University of Illinois Bands Podcast
• Transforming Music Study from its Foundations: A Manifesto for Progressive Change in the Undergraduate Preparation of Music Majors
• The Problems of Band: An Inquiry into the Future of Instrumental Music Education

Biography:

A native of Illinois, Sean Smith is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois.

Sean completed a year of coursework at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York prior to coming to the University of Illinois to continue his Master's degree with Dr. Stephen Peterson, which he finished in 2017. He has six years of public school teaching experience as Director of Bands in the Conneaut Area City Schools in Conneaut, Ohio. While in Conneaut, Sean taught bands from fifth grade through high school, directed the Conneaut High School Marching Band, and developed the music technology, guitar, and piano courses offered by the high school.

Before teaching, Sean studied at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio, where he received a Bachelor of Music Education. Sean received much conducting experience at Baldwin Wallace as Conducting Apprentice for the Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble and student conductor for the Brass Choir and the Contemporary Ensemble. Sean’s professional experiences include serving as Music Director of the Euclid Civic Orchestra and working as a National Director for Bugles Across America.

In August of 2015, The Instrumentalist Magazine published an article Sean authored titled “The Ideal Marching Schedule.” He had previously presented on the topic at the Ohio Music Education State Conference and at the Whalen Symposium at Ithaca College.