Everything Band: Episode 38 - Mary Land

Mary Land joins me to share 29 years of experience as a middle school band director. Also discussed is her role on the Midwest Board of Directors, finding balance as a band director, and her recent transition to college professor.

Topics:

• The program at Young Harris College and how Mary made the transition from a 29 year career as a middle school band director to a college band director.
• “You can not teach to empty chairs.” Mary’s thoughts about building a program and attracting students to participate in the band.
• How to choose good music and creating packets to help students learn the skills necessary to play a piece effectively.
• Practical advice about competitions, score preparation, cues, and dealing with the percussion section.
• Keeping balance in your life as a band director and being a lifelong learner.

Links:

• Mary Land
• Young Harris College
• Composers and Schools in Concert
• BandQuest
• Contemporary Music Project

Biography:
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Mary Land is Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. Mary received the Educational Doctorate in Music Education from the University of Georgia. Dr. Land, a native of North Augusta, South Carolina, received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia and her Master of Music Education degree from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. She has served the Georgia Music Educators Association in various state and local offices. Dr. Land is currently the immediate past president of the Georgia Music Educators Association and the CNAfME state chair. She continues to make numerous appearances as adjudicator, conductor, and clinician throughout the United States. Her professional affiliations include: GMEA, NAfME, IAJE, CBDNA, and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Professional Teacher Association. Dr. Land serves on the Board of Directors for the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and is a member of the Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. Dr. Land is a member of the National Band Association and has served as a national representative on the NBA executive board of directors. Mary Land is also on the faculty of the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp as the conductor of the Intermediate Division Wind Symphony and conductor of the Interlochen Faculty Brass Ensemble.

Many professional awards and recognitions have been awarded Dr. Land during her career. She has recently been presented with The Distinguished Alumni Award from the Vandercook College of Music. Dr. Land has been featured in many issues of the Instrumentalist magazine discussing her teaching techniques and her band program in the public schools and her band program at Young Harris College. She has been presented the National Band Association Citation of Excellence on twelve separate occasions and has been presented the Women Band Directors International Scroll of Excellence five times. Dr. Land was awarded the GMEA Music Educator of the Year Award for 2002 and was presented with the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Award at the 2002 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic for her contributions to music education. Mary Land was selected by the national publication School Band and Orchestra in their December 2003 issue as one of “50 Directors Who make a Difference”. Mary Land’s band program was the recipient of the Georgia Senate Resolution 212 commending the success of the Pickens County School Band Program. Mary Land and the Pickens County Middle School Band were the 2003 recipient of the Magna Cum Laude Award, a prestigious International Award for Middle School Bands.

Dr. Land is published in the journals for the National Band Association, the Instrumentalist, Teaching Music (NAfME), School Band and Orchestra Magazine, and the GIA series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Commissioning projects include works by Sam Hazo, Bill Locklear, Barry Kopetz, and Christopher Tucker.

Bands under Mary Land’s direction have received invitations to perform at many music conferences and clinics on multiple years, including the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference, the Southern Division MENC Convention, the CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference, the University of Southern Mississippi Conductors’ Conference, and the University of Georgia Band