Everything Band: Episode 23 - Tiffany Hitz

Back to school! This past July I had the chance to watch Tiffany Hitz in action at the UNC-Greensboro summer band camps and she is an exceptionally energetic and passionate teacher. At that moment I knew I had to have her on the podcast to talk about teaching, band music, and what composers need to to better!

Topics:

• The Fairfax County School system, Tiffany's early musical experiences, and the importance of knowing the difference between and English and French horn
• Finding your team, having a growth mindset, and being open to criticism and judgement
• Study guides, how to choose music and Tiffany's thoughts about composers

Links:

• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
• Composer Gordy Haab
• Brian Balmages: Smithsonian Suite
• Michael Markowski: The Cave You Fear
• David Maslanka: Give Us This Day
• Eric Whitacre: October

Biography:

Tiffany Hitz teaches band at Rachel Carson Middle School in Fairfax County, VA. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University. 

Mrs. Hitz has been teaching in Fairfax County since 2001, and recently completed a tenure as Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Coach for their Teacher Induction Program, Great Beginnings: The Next Generation. A member of the Virginia Music Educators Association, Mrs. Hitz was identified by the organization as an Emerging Leader and is currently on the state’s New Music Grading Committee and Conference Registration Staff. She is also a member of Women Band Directors International and has been published in and served as the Elementary Editor of their official journal, Woman Conductor.

This December, Mrs. Hitz was recognized by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of the “Fifty Directors Who Make a Difference”. In 2013, she became a National Board Certified Teacher, was selected for induction into the American School Band Director’s Association, and was nominated for the Grammy Music Educator Award. Mrs. Hitz currently serves as the Virginia State Chair of the National Band Association, and holds membership in the National Association for Music Education, International Horn Society, Sigma Alpha Iota: Women’s Professional Music Fraternity, and Fairfax County Band Directors Association, formerly serving as the group’s Co-President.

Also in demand as a guest clinician and adjudicator throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, Mrs. Hitz spends her summers making music at UNCG’s Summer Music Camp and the University of Maine’s Summer Youth Music.