W74 - Teaching Band With Excellence
Bruce Pearson is a world-renowned music educator, author, composer, and clinician. He has taught at the elementary, junior high, high school and college level for over thirty years. Twice nominated for the prestigious Excellence in Education Award, he was recognized as most outstanding in the field of music for the state of Minnesota. In December, 1998, Dr. Pearson, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music education, was awarded the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Director s Clinic Medal of Honor. In 2001, he was awarded St. Cloud State University s Distinguished Service To Music Award in appreciation for lifelong contribution to music and music education . In 2007, Dr. Pearson received St. Cloud State University s Distinguished Alumni Award. That same year he was recognized as the first Patron for the Maryborough Conference in Queensland, Australia.He is the author of the Standard of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method which has been regarded as the most important contribution to the band music field in the last three decades and for his first contribution, Best In Class. His new contribution, co-authored with Ryan Nowlin, the Tradition of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method, is a performance-centered curriculum that seamlessly blends time-tested and innovative pedagogy with cutting-edge technology. He also co-authored, with Dean Sorenson the Standard of Excellence Jazz Ensemble Method and the Standard of Excellence Advanced Jazz Ensemble Method.In addition to his method books, Dr. Pearson is well-known as a composer of many widely performed compositions for concert band and jazz ensemble. He has led clinics in all fifty of the United States and has been guest conductor and clinician, by invitation, of countries throughout the Pacific Rim, the Orient, Europe, and the Canadian provinces.A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ryan Nowlin holds both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Bowling Green State University (Ohio). He has taught instrumental music for ten years, most recently in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District (Ohio), where he directed the high school wind ensemble, marching band, jazz ensemble, symphonic band, and eighth grade band. Mr. Nowlin was also an instructor in conducting and band scoring at Bowling Green State University and was recently recognized as one of the university s Accomplished Graduates.Mr. Nowlin is an active composer and arranger, and has been commissioned to write for beginning through advanced concert band, brass quintet, tuba quartet, horn ensemble, and solo horn and piano. In addition to his many works for concert band and chamber groups, Mr. Nowlin co-authored Tradition of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method, Teaching Band with Excellence, and Excellence in Theory: Music Theory, Ear Training, and History Workbooks with noted author, composer, and educator, Bruce Pearson. In 2010, Mr. Nowlin joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, where he currently serves as staff arranger.Mr. Nowlin s numerous awards include the James Paul Kennedy Music Achievement Award, the Mark and Helen Kelly Band Award, as well as the Faculty Excellence Award for his work at BGSU. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, MENC, ASCAP, and the International Horn Society. He also holds honorary memberships in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma.Mr. Nowlin presently lives with his wife, Danielle, and their family in Northern Virginia.